Crime Solicitors

A Scotland Yard-based team of police officers and civilians with the ability to remember and pick out faces in a crowd has been successful in reducing the number of pickpocketing crimes in the capital.

The special squad is targeting tourist attractions like the British Museum and Buckingham Palace to identify pick-pocketing gangs before they carry out crimes.

The “super recognisers” have the unusual ability to be able to remember and pick out faces from a crowd.

They are also being sent to events like rock concerts, where pickpocketing and petty theft are common.

Scotland Yard says that one super recogniser attending a concert last October recognised a gang of five known suspects who were intercepted by police at the concert. As a result, no crimes were recorded at the concert – an unusual occurrence.

The teams are also being deployed in busy tourist areas like Oxford Street and events like the Notting Hill Carnival.

Coordinator of the group, Acting Sergeant Paul Smith, said:

“Their talent is holding an image in their head and going out –sometimes months or even years later – and being able to recognise that person and say, ‘That’s John Smith’.

“We are deploying the group to tourist areas where pickpockets and thieves operate – and they go out to spot known thieves.”

Crowded events like rock concerts are prime targets for pickpockets who deal in mobile phones – it used to be the norm for dozens of mobile phones to be reported stolen at a rock concert, but since the super recognisers have been used, the number of thefts has now fallen to just or few or even zero.

The Metropolitan Police has recently held a three-day event for 72 super recognisers, to help identify criminals from CCTV images comprising 3,000 suspects.

Police Community Support Officer Lee O’Brien, 34, is part of the team of super recognisers and said:

“You look for facial features that do not change, such as people’s ears, nose or mouth. I don’t think I have any special ability – but I do remember names and faces.

“I can remember people from school whom I have not seen for years.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville from the Met Police said:

“We are the only police force in the country doing this. By the end of three days, we have identified around 150 suspects – treble the number of identifications that we would have done in a week.

“Around 75 per cent of the suspects end up in court.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise at any stage of a criminal charge involving pickpocketing, mugging, theft, robbery and possession of stolen goods.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence lawyer can usually reach a police station within 45 minutes to advise on criminal charges.

For expert legal advice on at any stage of a criminal charge, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.