Latest Research into Long Term Recognition Skills

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The ability of Super Recognisers to remember faces over a long period is a vital skill in law enforcement.   Criminals can disappear for several months - especially if they are suspected of very serious offences.  In his latest blog, Dr Josh Davis reveals the performance of Super Recognisers when tested on the identification of images nearly two months after the initial viewing.   Dr Davis highlights the need to conduct testing for long term recognition.

https://www.superrecognisers.com/post/testing-super-recogniser-s-memory-for-faces-for-up-to-56-days-photo

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Super Recognisers in the German Capital→

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The Association is pleased to announce that the Berlin Police are testing their officers for Super Recogniser skills.   This news is contained in this video (around 1 hour 18 minutes) presented by Dr Meike Ramon, as part of the EU Project on Urban Security regarding Super Recognisers:

 https://zoom.us/rec/play/vJ0kc-Go-jk3EtTDuQSDBaR8W466eK-s13Mc_vELzk6zUiZQZACnZ7sRZba-gFc7JhKVDQ2xce2w1LqA

Dr Ramon appears to claim that this will be the first collaboration between academia and police in this field, but the Association can confirm that from 2010 there was several years of work by Greenwich, Bournemouth, Leeds and other universities with the Metropolitan Police and a number of research papers (and TV documentaries) were produced.   The Super Recogniser tests used by Dr Josh Davis (Greenwich) were developed as part of the EU Project "LASIE", where his university, Scotland Yard and the Madrid Police were partners.

The Association wishes the Berlin Police and Dr Ramon every success and is ready to assist when required. And, of course, results from previous collaborations will be shared to assist this new project.

Association Presentation Day - 2021

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.