§ Stephen HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on video identification as a replacement for identification parades. [58637]
§ Mr. DenhamThe new provisions in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) Codes of Practice, which came into force on 1 April 2002, will enable police forces to make more use of video technology to speed up the identification process. Video identification provides a fast and effective alternative to live identity parades. Problems in arranging "live" identification parades within a reasonable period of time have contributed significantly to delays in processing cases and such delays impact upon the quality of evidence and compromise the whole process of justice. Making better use of video identification technology will free up officer time to tackle crime and standardise police practices. It will also result in more 809W positive identifications and benefit witnesses and victims, who will no longer have to re-live their ordeal by coming face-to-face with their attacker in a live identity parade.
Rollout of video identification technology, for which the Government have provided £7.6 million, has commenced in the 10 police force areas participating in the Government's Robbery Reduction Initiative.