Saturday, April 30, 2005

Dog day Afternoon

Dog day Afternoon

3 bank robbery attempts on the same day show that video is not an instant invesigative tool, but it is probably the best way for the police to catch the bank robber who uses his anoniminity as a weapon. He is nothing special to look at so rather than alarm bells ringing at best his bland looks may excite a delayed relaction or a niggling matter of concern. It is not long though, until someone will make a connection somewhere and Mr John Doe will be caught in the act. Then video footage is a more powerful weapon in the hands of the police.

As a tool of forensics, this footage may reveal intimate details that may prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person filmed is or is not a suspect. For example, a pattern of spots or the shape of his nose and position of eyes. As a tool of investigation these brief glances of the suspect give few clues but that they have been published on the front page of today's NZ Herald, makes watch dogs of us all. It will also probably alert the suspect that someone is onto him.

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