The research programme is investigating the impact of presentation of faces to eyewitnesses during construction of EvoFIT facial composites.
Facial composites are used to allow potential suspects to be identified in a criminal investigation, and so construction of accurate faces is therefore important for effective policing. The current project is exploring ways that faces are presented during face construction using the EvoFIT system, a method that allows a composite to be evolved over time by the selection of faces from alternatives.
Previous research has shown that the way information is presented is important for effective use of a composite system (e.g., Brown et al., 2019; Frowd et al., 2010, 2012; Martin et al., 2018). Specifically, the current project is investigating the impact of the number of faces a witness sees at any one time, and how these faces should best be arranged on the screen.
Primary goals and objectives
- Development of best practice for interviewing witnesses and victims of crime
- Adaption of user interfaces for different witness characteristics and situations
- Optimisation techniques for construction of identifiable composite faces
Impact
The project has already provided important clues as to the best interface to human memory. Results should help eyewitnesses to construct the most effective composite of an offender.
Related research projects
- Article
Helping the police to identify offenders using EvoFIT facial composites
In the fight against serious crime police forces worldwide are using advanced digital technology co-developed with the University’s forensic practitioners. Enhancing the effectiveness of facial-composite images
The aim of this programme of research is to understand how to produce more identifiable facial composites by enhancing internal facial features (i.e., the eyes, mouth) using a holistic composite system.Strategies for evolving identifiable facial composite images
This programme of research investigates the best strategies to use when evolving a face from long-term memory using holistic facial-composite systems.Self-administered procedures for constructing identifiable facial composites
Our research focuses on techniques that allow police to identity suspects through use of composite images produced by witnesses and victims of crime.Using detailed environmental recall to enhance facial-composite images
The programme of research aims to improve the effectiveness of facial composites by recalling the environment in which a face was seen, which allows a witness to construct the face of an offender more effectively.
