CSI: GOLD COAST

TEENS PUT ON NOTICE

POLICE are on the brink of adapting technology that would allow officers to construct “artist impressions” of offenders in real time on the beat.

The humble sketch has been helping police catch the “bad guy” for centuries, but in 2015 the equipment and programs available are mind-blowing.

Until the 1960s, a dedicated police sketch artist would carefully draw a suspect’s face based on witness description.

Sketch artists hung up their pencils for good when “identi-kit” was brought and photographed features most resembling the offender were chosen and slipped behind glass.

The method presented a disjointed image at times but was the most popular technique available until the late 1980s.

As computers became more prevalent the identikit was also shelved and replaced with the Comfit (Computer Facial Identification Technique) which uses Adobe Photoshop to create a clearer final product.

Acting Inspector and officer in charge of the Photographic and Electronic Recording Sections Stuart Cross said technology in the UK was now being looked at to make it even easier for police to track offenders.

“There is a system used in the UK where police create these comfits in real time while with the witness or victim on an iPad or tablet,” he said.

“We are evaluating its possible use in Queensland. It would make things much more efficient and hopefully help us catch the offender sooner.

“When this is implemented there would need to be training and changes made to current procedure.

“I envisage there would be officers trained in each police district in how to create the comfit with the witness, and that may be co-ordinated from the Forensic Services Group.

“We would also train the officers in how to use the equipment with the goal being that whether an officer in Toowoomba or one in Coolangatta is creating the comfit they will be of the same quality.”

SEXTING

TEENS have been put on notice that they could face child pornography charges if they send or receive sexual images.

Police have blitzed schools across the Coast in the past few months conducting sessions on “sexting” in the face of the growing popularity of instant image app Snapchat.

Gold Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit boss Inspector Mark White said the message to kids was simply “don’t do it”.

“These kids don’t realise they can be charged for producing, possessing or distributing child exploitation material,” Inspector White said.

“We warn them of the charges associated, but also that once a picture is out there on the web it is there forever. Many kids use Snapchat thinking it will disappear, but people can take screen shots.”

He said often a teenager would send a picture to a friend, for their eyes only, but it would then be sent around to others as a joke.

“Some kids think it’s funny to send these kind of pictures to their friends – this is where distribution comes into it,” he said.