Some police forces still do traditional identity parades (ID parades) and line ups. This involves a group of individuals
who look alike forming a line and being given a number. A witness will then pick out the person suspected of a crime.
The witness is usually behind one way glass.
The other people in the police identity parades are sometimes police officers, though some forces prefer their
officers to assign their police constables and other ranks to get on with other work, rather than spend an hour or two
hanging around doing an ID parade. This is where you can benefit. Some police stations and forces keep a bank of people
they can call on to take part in the line up. It usually takes less than a few hours and you are normally paid £10 or
£15 for the first hour and £5 thereafter. Rates of pay vary from police force to police force.
There can be some waiting around whilst police officers brief the witnesses. The advantages to you are that you
are paid for this time and may have access to the police station canteen where you may get something free to eat
and drink.
Some police forces may pay expenses such as loss of earnings or travelling expenses.
If make up has to be applied to an identity parade volunteer then an extra payment is given.
Take Part In A Police ID Parade
You do not need any skills or qualifications to take part in a police ID parade. You will be matched according to
your height, weight, eye, hair and skin colour, disabilities, scars, etc. This enables the police to form a line up
with similar looking people to ensure fairness to the criminal and to ensure that the witness has demonstrated
that they can correctly identify the criminal.
You should register in person at the police station, fill in the form, and request to stay on record as being willing to take part
in future identity parades. You should be prepared to go the designated police stations at short notice, so do give the
police officer as many telephone numbers as you can and a mobile telephone number.
The information you provide to the police will be treated confidentially and is subject to Data Protection
legislation.
Children should have permission from their parents and their school before taking part in a police identity parade.
Not all stations do police identity parades because of modern technology and cost cutting. For example some now
use video and computer technology. This means they can even use a laptop in a witness's home with a virtual ID parade.
This is known as virtual video identity parades (VIPER). However there are still some forces where you can get paid to take part in police
identity parades so it is still worth registering your interest.
Payment is usually made after the identity parade and you may be asked to sign a disclaimer or confidentially form.
You should declare this payment as a source of income to the Tax Office on your annual self assessment form. People
on benefits are sometimes permitted to earn a small payment each week whilst retaining their full benefit payments - it
is worth asking at your social security office. You could earn this extra cash and help the local community and police
force.
Are there any disadvantages to taking part in a police identity parade?
There may be a real criminal in the line up! So you may be in presence of a burglar, murderer, rapist,
thief, mugger, etc. However your safety should be assured because some police officers
may also be in the line up and there will be police officers and police detectives' co-ordinating the line up.
Taking part in a police identity parade is interesting work and worth doing to help your local police force. Without
police identity parade volunteer's officers find it difficult to complete the line up and have to waste valuable hours
looking for people in the community, in pubs and while on the beat.
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