Facewatch

Londoners can now help identify suspects wanted for their role in last summers disturbances at the touch of a button after thousands of images have today (Tuesday 26th June) been loaded onto the MPS smart phone App driven by technology from Facewatch.

Following the disorder last year, and a meticulous investigation of CCTV, police have identified and uploaded 2,880 images, and are urging the public to download the App and assist in identifying people the police want to speak to.

The popularity of the app lies in its simplicity. As well as being available on all computers at www.facewatchid.co.uk the Facewatch App works across all smartphone and tablet computer platforms with internet connection and is free to download from the Apple App Store, Android Google Play and Blackberry App World.

A member of the public just has to enter their local postcode into their smart phone or iPad and then click or touch through a selection of unidentified CCTV images of suspects that the police would like to talk to.

If an image is known to the viewer they have the opportunity to enter the name and or address of the person shown which is then sent immediately and confidentially to the police.

The App continues to target low level crimes such as shoplifting or anti-social behaviour and over 2,000 images have also been uploaded today.

The Facewatch id App technology and secure database system has also been made available by Facewatch to all Police Forces across the UK and will soon link to the Facewatch business crime reporting solution already in use by many businesses in London.

MPS Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of Specialist Crime and Operations, said: 'This is a great opportunity for the public to help us fight crime, and bring those who remain outstanding to justice. My hope is that the two-thirds of Londoners who own smartphones will download this app, and help us identify those suspects we still need to speak to. We need Londoners to browse through the app every week or so as new images will appear regularly, this is a fantastic way for Londoners to help us to fight crime.'

Simon Gordon, Director of Facewatch Ltd:
"We are extremely pleased to be the technology partner behind the Facewatch application and by working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service team are able to help in a small way towards creating a safer and more secure city especially in such an important year for London"

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Neville, head of the Visual Image Identification and Inspection Office, said: 'We are committed to tracing those individuals we wish to speak with through CCTV and other forensic images.'