Identifying Suspects

Question 1

Formal Methods of Identification

Answer 1

1. formal visual identification
   - ID parade
   - photo montage
2. voice identification
3. finger, palm and footprints
4. forensic examination

Question 2

What happens is a formal identification process is not followed

Answer 2

If it was not followed and there was no good reason why not, then evidence as to identification may be inadmissible

Question 3

Good reasons NOT to do Formal (Visual ID)

Answer 3

• suspect refuses to take part in a formal procedure and Police do not already hold a photo of the suspect
• the suspect has a singular appearance *(so impossible to find person similar in appearance)
• the suspect has substantially changed their appearance after the offence occurred and before it was practical to hold a formal procedure
• no officer involved in the investigation or prosecution of the offence could have reasonably anticipated that identification would be an issue at trial
• the suspect was positively identified soon after the offence was reported
• an identification of the suspect was made to an officer after a chance meeting between the witness and the suspect

Question 4

Photo Montage

Answer 4

most common formula method of identification used

must be conducted as solo as possible after the offence

usually created by the OC or within district

at least 7 (8 including suspect) and must look similar, including the photo background

follow police instructions - *this is a logical process but there are rules and an wrote will see your evidence disallowed

Question 5

Finger, Palm and Footprints

Answer 5

under the Policing Act, every person arrested by police has finger and palm fronts taken for 2 primary purposes:
1. identity check at time of arrest
2. retention on database

all prints are unique to the individual

crime scene printed are compared to records held to find a match

the ‘matched’ person is interviewed to exclude a lawful purpose for their prints at the scene

if charged, the ‘matched’ person has prints taken again to check the match already obtained (ensure integrity of match)

Question 6

Forensic Examination

Answer 6

Police are able to obtain DNA (usually buccal sample) from every person convicted of an imprisonable offence and put it onto the database

DNA found at crime scenes is sampled and compared for a match

The ‘matched’ person is interviewed to exclude a lawful purpose for their DNA at the scene