Report on Super Recognisers On-Line Course 1-3 Dec2020

Following on from the course for Thames Valley Police, the first on-line open-to-all course was held 1st – 3rd December 2020.  AND it was an international affair, with twenty-eight students from UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, Singapore and the USA.

The course consisted of presentations on Super Recognisers tactics and deployments and crimes solved, together with a review of the important laws and regulations relating to data protection, privacy and identification of suspects.

Particularly popular were talks on the future of crime, including how Super Recognisers could be operating in 2030, and Kelly’s Hearsey’s presentation on her career as a Super Recogniser. Kelly outlined the police investigations and strange enquiries she has been involved in, including establishing the truth behind the “Paul is Dead” Beatles conspiracy theory and working with the international media to crack cases.

All the students faced a variety of tests from Professor Josh Davies and his team from Greenwich University.   The course ended with a fun exercise – the scenario involved a gang of thieves who had stolen plans for a VIP visit.  Was there to be a terrorist attack or a kidnapping??  Could the Super Recognisers save the day?  Yes, they certainly did!

Some excellent feedback was received, with Sean from South Wales noting, “The course was not only enjoyable but also invaluable to any anybody interested in this field of work. It gives an excellent foundation in the necessary laws and codes of conduct to ensure your work is of the highest standard and the speakers were each excellent and gave brilliant insights into their field of expertise. It is a course I highly recommend it to anyone who has not yet taken the chance to take part.”

Adele from Kent added, "I found the course extremely interesting and engaging. It was well paced and the timings of the sessions were good, nothing felt rushed. There was time to ask questions, and… everyone got the opportunity to be heard if they had a question. The course layout with additional presenters made for a varied and interesting format.”

The next on-line course (run in UK time) is Tuesday 23rd February to Thursday 25th February 2021.   Contact mike.neville@superrecognisersinternational.com     Members of the Association are entitled to discounted prices.