Legal Definitions - identikit

An identikit is a forensic tool utilized by law enforcement agencies to construct a visual representation of a person, typically a suspect, based on descriptions provided by witnesses. It involves assembling a composite image by selecting and combining various standardized facial features, such as eyes, noses, mouths, hair, and other distinguishing characteristics, from a pre-existing collection. This process helps create a visual aid for investigations when no photograph of the individual is available. In some regions, particularly Great Britain, a similar system or the resulting image may be referred to as a photofit.

• Bank Robbery Investigation: After a bank robbery, the teller provides police with a detailed description of the perpetrator's face, including their distinctive scar above the eyebrow and a specific type of mustache.

  How it illustrates: A police artist or trained officer uses an identikit system, presenting the teller with various options for facial features. The teller selects the eyes, nose, mouth, hair, and then identifies the specific scar and mustache from the available options, gradually building a composite sketch that closely matches their memory of the robber. This composite image is then circulated to other law enforcement agencies and potentially the public to aid in identification.

• Witnessing a Street Theft: A pedestrian witnesses a purse snatching and gets a quick glimpse of the thief's face as they flee the scene on a bicycle.

  How it illustrates: Although the witness couldn't recall the thief's clothing in detail, they vividly remember the thief's unusually narrow eyes and prominent chin. Police then use an identikit to help the witness reconstruct these key facial features, creating a composite image that provides a crucial visual lead for detectives investigating the theft.

• Cold Case Review: Decades after a person went missing, a new witness comes forward claiming to have seen the missing individual with an unknown companion shortly before their disappearance. The witness provides a description of this unknown companion from memory.

  How it illustrates: Even after many years, the police can use an identikit system to help the witness reconstruct the face of the unknown individual, focusing on unique features like a specific hairstyle or a noticeable mole. This composite image could then be compared against old records or used to generate new leads in the cold case investigation, providing a visual representation where none existed before.