Video ID parades for PSNI

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PNSI) is to begin using the VIPER (Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording) system following the installation of VIPER suites in custody suites located across Northern Ireland at Musgrave Street in South Belfast, Antrim, Omagh, Strand Road in Londonderry, Coleraine and Lisburn.

A seventh VIPER suite will be located in Newry later this year.

Announcing details of the new system at Belfast’s Musgrave Street Custody Suite, ACC Duncan McCausland welcomed the introduction of the technology, which can provide the PSNI with the ability to arrange identification parades within hours of a suspect’s arrest.

ACC McCausland said: “Visual identification is the key to any investigation and research has indicated that the use of such technology increases the percentage of positive identifications taking place. Because video parades can be produced quickly, a victim or witness can view the parade on a lap-top computer in a location convenient to them whilst the image is still fresh in their minds. This new equipment will be invaluable in numerous cases where witnesses have been classed as vulnerable. The VIPER process is often less stressful for witnesses to view a parade than by a traditional ‘live’ parade.”

Around 200 identification parades are prepared daily by the VIPER Bureau for the police forces who use the technology. An identification parade is prepared on a DVD disc, which can then be viewed, stored or taken out to a witness on a laptop computer.