Facial recognition software to aid Calgary police in future investigations

Calgary police will startusing facial recognition softwarethis month to compare mugshots with crime scenephotos and video.

Officials say Calgary is the first police force in Canada to use theprogram.

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Insp.Rosemary Hawkins says officers previously had tomanually search their database of 300,000mug shots whereas this process takes just a few minutes or seconds.

"This technology will not be used to identify people walking down the street as a member of the general public," she said."It willbe used to identify subjects involved in criminal activity under police investigation and the image searched against our mugshot database,which holds photos of people that have been processed on charges."

Hawkins says it can also be used to speed up the booking process if officers are given fake identification.

The Calgary Police Service entered into a contract with NEC Corporation of America for their NeoFace Reveal facial recognition solution after a year of research.

"We are confident that our NeoFace solution will enable CPS to solve even more crimes in a timelier manner and better serve Calgarys public safety and security needs, saidNEC Biometrics Solutions Division vice presidentRaffie Beroukhim.

Officials say the software uses a "complex mathematical algorithm of pattern recognition to quickly screen a database of photos for potential matches."