4.1 Video identification parades

Watch the following video in which an eyewitness views a video identification parade procedure using the VIPER system.

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Transcript

NARRATOR MALE

Following his full description of the unmasked robber, will Andrew be able to identify him?

ANDREW

Hiya

NARRATOR MALE

Strict protocols are followed to ensure the witnesses aren't influenced. The line-up must be viewed twice, then if required, any numbers can be called up again.

ANDREW

Number 1 and number 3 I'd like to see again

OFFICER

Number 1 and 3?

OFFICER

Was the person shown the film?

ANDREW

Yes, number 3.

OFFICER

In order to confirm your identification, is this the person you were referring to when you made the ID?

ANDREW

Yes.

SIMON

Would I recognise him again? Yeah. If I saw him I would say, yeah, I could say "that's definitely him". I got quite a good clear view of him because he actually looked straight at me.

NARRATOR MALE

Is Simon still as confident?

OFFICER

Was the person shown on the film?

SIMON

Yeah I couldn't be sure.

OFFICER

Can't be sure.

SIMON

No.

End transcript

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DS Sund used a VIPER parade with Lila and Seth. VIPER parades involve presenting a sequence of clips, one after the other, that show a head and shoulders view of the suspect and foils. Each person is shown looking straight at the camera and then turning from side to side so that their face can be seen from multiple angles. The images are carefully controlled so that the background, lighting, etc. are identical, and foils can be chosen from a large database containing more than 25,000 possible people. Research has shown that this makes such parades ‘fair’, in that there is nothing that makes the suspect stand out, and the foils look suitably similar to the suspect.

You can find out more about the VIPER [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]  system here.