Super Recognisers featured in an article in the best-selling Spanish newspaper “El Mundo”. If you wish to read the full article (the link has a paywall), email mike.neville@superrecognisersinternational.com for a PDF version.
https://www.elmundo.es/papel/historias/2021/02/22/602f97c0fdddff13788b45b4.html
In the UK, no one can be arrested or searched due to a computerised facial recognition identification alone. According to the Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Code of Practice there must be “human intervention” before such actions are taken and Super Recognisers are the ideal people to provide that. The false identification of suspects, particularly black men, in the US by automated systems shows why this rule should be adopted internationally.
Association members who have attended a face-to-face course will recall the excellent input from Dr Donald on spotting suspicious behaviour. In this article, the South African behavioural expert discusses the use of CCTV to identify criminal conduct and how operators can read body language.
A new software named Fawkes has been developed in the US to subtly alter images on social media, so they cannot be matched using artificial intelligence. Another good reason for law enforcement to use HUMAN Super Recognisers! See the full article here:
Cloak your photos with this AI privacy tool to fool facial recognition - The Verge
The CCTV User Group (also known as the National Association of Surveillance Camera Managers) is hosting a webinar on Thursday 25th February and asking the question: Should CCTV control room employ Super Recognisers?
You can book a place using this link:
The attached article shows how automated or computerised facial recognition is NOT a panacea to spotting criminals. The article highlights the following issues:
13000 faces were scanned resulting in just ONE arrest
Facial recognition devices identified the wrong person seven out of eight times
Cameras failed to spot any suspects out of 4,600 faces in London last February
Campaigners say cameras are 'dangerously inaccurate and waste public money
Human Super Recognisers can make such systems more effective. BUT humans are also cheaper and more effective. AND their identifications can be used as EVIDENCE in court.
Mike Neville has been asked to speak to two influential police committees regarding Super Recognisers. This month he is speaking to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) CCTV Group. This is currently led by South Wales Police, but has representatives from police forces from all over England & Wales and the British Transport Police, which covers the UK.
Next month, he is delivering a presentation to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a worldwide body, with lots of US law enforcement agencies as members.
This will spread the word regarding our specialism. and create opportunities for employment.
This month, the UK government will begin to consult the public on the introduction of “Martyn’s Law”. This is named after Martyn Hett - one of the victims of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, which resulted in 22 deaths after a concert in May 2017.
The Manchester Evening News reports that “Private and public owners of venues and sites currently have no obligation to act on free advice given to them from specialist counter-terrorism advisers about threats of a terrorist attack and how to mitigate the risk. Ministers announced new 'Protect Duty' legislation, which builds on the proposals for Martyn's Law…”. Full story on the link.
The standard of security and policing at the event was strongly condemned by lawyers representing the bereaved families. See this report by the BBC:
Manchester Arena Inquiry: Failures 'fundamental and chronic' - BBC News (ampproject.org)
The Association of Super Recognisers will ensure that the government is aware of the value of SRs in the fight against terrorism. We will be involved in the consultation.
All Licensed Super Recognisers are trained in privacy and data protection laws and Codes of Practice. These are covered in detail on our courses, whether on-line or face-to-face.
This case in Texas shows why such input is essential for anyone entrusted with surveillance equipment.
This article appeared in the Daily Mail. PC Tony Barnes was a colleague of Mike Neville.
PC Tony Barnes has spent seven years as the Met Police's only e-fit artist
The art school dropout, 54, was picked for the job after he was caught drawing pictures of fellow police officers
One of his proudest achievements was helping to catch convicted rapist Derry McCann who attacked a woman in Victoria Park on the day of his wedding
Barnes is due to retire in March and is training four new officers in the art of the e-fit
An artist-turned police officer is hanging up his virtual pen after 15 years depicting some of Britain's most notorious criminals.
Over his career, PC Tony Barnes has worked to recreate the likenesses of killers, rapists, robbers and thieves in a bid to bring them to justice.
As the Metropolitan Police's sole e-fit operator for seven years, the 54-year-old said he is the only officer in London who is paid to draw pictures all day long.
A fitting tribute to his work has been created to mark PC Barnes' retirement - his very own e-fit.
But attempting to accurately generate a suspect's face from only a witness or victim's account can produce some controversial results.
While many e-fits have led to the successful identification of dangerous crooks, some have drawn criticism for hairstyles and facial features that appear bizarre and unrealistic at first glance.
However PC Barnes insists ridicule of computer-aided e-fits can be unfair given that many of the details are provided by traumatised victims.
'I'd be lying if I said I hadn't laughed at some of the e-fits I have seen over the years. I bet you have as well,' Barnes told SWNS news agency.
'The truth is that every e-fit that you see in the press or on TV is not the vision of the police office or police staff member.
'It is what the witness has described to those officers. Sure, the artistic skills of some of the composite artists may be lacking at times, but that image only appears for public consumption if the witness says there is a likeness to the suspect.
'I have pride in all the images that I have helped create over the years, even if some very old images look unrealistic by today's standards.'
One of the e-fits PC Barnes is most proud of led to the conviction of Derry McCann, who raped a 24-year-old woman whom he did not know in Victoria Park in London in 2016 just hours before he married the cousin of footballer Harry Kane.
Derry had been freed for a similar attack in 2006 but was released nine years later after successfully challenging his sentence.
'Of course not all e-fit images lead to an arrest but lots have, including the conviction of Derry McCann,' Barnes said, adding that McCann was then sentenced to life in prison.
PC Barnes said that his work identifies suspects at a rate of at least one in four.
He transferred to the Met from Essex Police in 2006 and has been the force's only e-fit operator since 2013.
Prior to joining the police, Barnes dropped out of art school. He was put on Scotland Yard's e-fit team after he was caught sketching colleagues.
Despite the rise of CCTV, facial recognition software and mobile phone footage, e-fits still provide a valuable tool to police searching for suspects who did not appear on camera or who have hidden their faces, Barnes said.
'People sometimes ask whether e-fits are still needed today, given the extent of CCTV and other technology.
'While it's of course true that these things have diminished the need for e-fits in some ways, there are always criminals who lurk in the shadows and manage to evade any cameras.
'That's where we come in and why I think there will always be a place for what we do.'
Over his career, PC Barnes said that he has interviewed more than 2,000 witnesses in every borough of the capital.
Despite the high numbers of witnesses and their different backgrounds, Barnes said all the people he'd interviewed had 'one thing in common'.
'They had either been the victim of, or witness to a crime. Some of them, very serious indeed. This is something that is often forgotten by the press.'
PC Barnes also joked that he was the most published artist in the Evening Standard after Banksy.
'I like to tell people one of two things about me. Either that I'm the most published artist in the Evening Standard or that I'm the only police officer in London who's paid to draw pictures all day long.
'Both are true I think, although Banksy gets his fair share of column space.
'Whatever I tell people, I know that I have been incredibly lucky to do something at work that I love doing. Not only can I use my natural creative talents, but I get to meet very interesting people.
'I joined as a PC but when I saw this opportunity, I knew it was right for me and that's proved exactly right.'
PC Barnes will be retiring in March after helping to show four new recruits the ropes.
The new officers have received the national training accreditation in e-fit and are currently being taught about the world of composite images.
Barnes joked that while he's a 'very strict teacher' for now, after retiring he'll be: 'off to the countryside in a floppy hat and a smock to paint until the sun goes down'.
The ASR is the professional body representing those who possess the super recogniser skills around the globe. Via our associate scheme, you will be able to access the latest developments in the science of super recognition, browse job opportunities and contact other practitioners from around the globe who share your unique skills and abilities. After a certain period of years in practice, you may even be invited to become a Fellow of the Association.
Have you got an amazing memory for human faces? Your skill could help law enforcement, security companies, Armed Forces or other organisations. You may just want to use your skill for fun OR are simply interested in Super Recognition.
There is NO need to have a background in security, the military or law enforcement. Super Recognisers come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
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