Course Date Announced - 1st - 5th March 2021

The next SRI Course will be held in central London 1st - 5th March. Full details are shown on the “Courses” page of this website.

Association Presentation Day - 2021

Due to the on-going problems with Covid 19, it has been decided to hold the Presentation Day in early 2021 and NOT in September.  Once a date has been agreed, this will be circulated as soon as possible.    A venue will be central London.  Licences and certificates will be presented by our Chairman, Lord Lingfield, who wishes all our members well.

German Police Super Recognisers Target Rioters / Super-Erkennung der deutschen Polizei zielen auf Randalierer in Stuttgart

Officers of the Baden-Württemberg Police are investigating rioting and violence, which occurred in Stuttgart on Saturday 20th June.  Many of the offenders were captured on CCTV images and now the police Super Recognisers have been called in to identify them.   Germany has been at the forefront of developing the super recogniser tactic since British SRs from New Scotland Yard assisted detectives from Cologne, who were investigating the mass sex attacks which occurred in city Kathedral Platz on New Year's Eve 2015.  Super Recogniser Units have been developed in several German cities, including Munich.

Reports are in German

Chairman's Letter to the Daily Telegraph - Facial Recognition

Chairman's Letter to the Daily Telegraph - Facial Recognition

The Association's Chairman, Lord Lingfield, a member of the British House of Lords, wrote to the influential newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, and his letter was published on 15th June 2020.

Facial recognition

SIR – Amazon has suspended the provision of its automated facial recognition (AFR) system to American law enforcement agencies in response to the unrest there. In addition, the chief executive of the tech giant IBM has withdrawn from the AFR market.

Several cities in the United States have banned the use of recognition systems due to privacy concerns. Also, there are studies indicating that such software is often biased against black and minority ethnic faces – especially those of black women.

In this country, the rules relating to the use of AFR are inconsistent. A study by the University of Essex concluded that it is “highly possible” that the Metropolitan Police’s use of computerised facial recognition to date would be held unlawful if it were challenged in court. However, police forces across the world really do need to identify those involved in violence, looting and arson.

Human “super recognisers” – who make up about 1 per cent of the population – are people with an amazing, innate ability to remember and identify faces. The association of which I am chairman is already training police forces to use the skills of such people to identify criminals in an ethical and legal manner, without resorting to techniques reminiscent of Big Brother.

Lord Lingfield (Conservative)
Chairman, The Association of Super Recognisers

London SW1

Amazon & IBM suspend the supply of Automated Facial Recognition to the Police

As riots breakout across the world, with widespread incidents of violence, arson and looting, the need for HUMAN Super Recognisers continues to increase.   Following the outcry after the death of George Floyd, Amazon and IBM have both suspended the supply of automated facial recognition software to law enforcement agencies.   Several US cities have already banned the use of computerised facial recognition.  See the full article:

Salisbury Poisonings TV Drama

This has been a great series and shows the response to the attempted assassination of Russian double-agent, Sergei Skripal, by the use of Novichok nerve agent in the quiet, West Country city.  The programme has highlighted the great efforts by the police and County Council to deal with this crisis.  BUT, were you aware that the CCTV investigation and viewing of over 5000 hours of footage was conducted by two Metropolitan Police Super Recognisers?   It was these two SRs who matched the men landing at Gatwick airport and then arriving at Salisbury railway station and walking around in the town.   Super Recognisers solve another major crime!

Brazilian Super Recognisers Sought

The Association has been approached by a Brazilian television producer, who is very interested in creating a story about Super Recognisers.  If you wish to be involved, contact the Association.  This includes SRs living in Brazil and Brazilian national SRs, who are living in other countries.

Email - mike.neville@superrecognisersinternational.com for more information

The Continuing Need for Human Intervention

The high profile deployment of automated facial recognition AFR) by the Metropolitan Police continues to attract lots of criticism, whilst generating few results.  This article relates to the use of AFR in the busy shopping area of Oxford Street in central London.  Despite over 8000 faces being scanned, only one criminal was successfully identified and arrested.  For law enforcement agencies across the world it is important to note the advice of the US NIST (National Institute for Science & Technology) that noted that the best results are achieved if AFR is used with HUMAN super recognisers.

For all our members - keep safe during this difficult time.

The Impact of the Pandemic - Masks!

The Metropolitan Police are said to be re-considering their decision to deployed automated facial recognition (AFR) - see article.  This is due to large numbers of people now wearing face masks to protect themselves from the Covid 19 virus...……..or to hide their faces from the police as they are prolific, violent or wanted criminals.  Human Super Recognisers have made identifications where the suspect has covered much of their face - as can be seen in the photograph.  This was suspect was identified by a police officer Super Recogniser in the aftermath of the London Riots of 2011.  He received six years imprisonment for robbery.

It is time for more law enforcement agencies to find and use their Super Recognisers.

Super Recognisers could assist Law Enforcement in the USA

As riots sweep across the United States, this is a time when American law enforcement agencies need human Super Recognisers.   In the London Riots of 2011, Super Recognisers were used to review CCTV and other video footage.   Their skill at making identifications, even when faces were partially covered, resulted in thousands of rioters, looters and other criminals being brought to justice.    Please use the links below to see how Super Recognisers can assist at this time - especially when criminals may be taking advantage of the Covid 19 virus and wearing masks in public places.   Please share the briefing with law enforcement officers in your area and ask them to contact the Association of Super Recognisers for more information.