Hi-tech ID parades a hit

Virtual identity parades to go live across Scotland following Lothian success

News, 22 October 2004

Victims of crime across Scotland will soon be able to identify suspects without leaving home following the success of a hi-tech pilot in Edinburgh.

The virtual identity parade scheme, which has been running for the last six months, has been a big hit with young people and children who are often intimidated by having to attend a police line-up.

It uses the latest technology to hold a virtual line-up on a laptop computer, with the help of video images from a national database of volunteers. So far 30 virtual parades have identified 51 criminals who have been identified for over 100 crimes; seven people have been prosecuted and all convicted.

Detective Inspector Andrew Wayth of Lothian and Borders Police said that the process was far less stressful for those involved as it allows them to make an identification without seeing the suspect in person.

He said: “The old-style identification parades could be distressing for victims and witnesses and difficult to arrange at short notice.

“One of the benefits of the system is that we can take the identification parade out of the police station. For example, it has been taken to village halls, hospitals and victims' homes.

“Valuable police time has been saved through this use of modern technology with officers not having to comb the streets for suitable line-up suspects.”