PUBLICATIONS

Professor Ray Bull is co-author of Witness Identification in Criminal Cases: Psychology and Practice, published by Oxford University Press.

Witness Identification in Criminal Cases: Psychology and Practice

By Rachel Wilcock (London South Bank University), Ray Bull (University of Leicester) and Rebecca Milne (University of Portsmouth)

• The only up to date guide for the police and students on the psychology behind criminal identification, the psychological factors affecting identification, and recent research and innovations in the area
• Applies psychology to the area of criminal identification, making reference to relevant legislation including the PACE Codes of Practice
• Outlines the psychological information relevant to constructing and delivering identification parades
• Includes a chapter on how to assist vulnerable witnesses in providing accurate ID evidence
• Examines other methods of ID including voice and gait identification

Witness Identification provides an up-to-date review on identifying crime perpetrators based on psychological theory and research. Applying psychology to the area of criminal identification, the authors make reference to relevant legislation such as the PACE Codes of Practice as they explore the psychology involved in identification.

This insightful and practical title will inform anyone interested in this area. The authors outline the psychological information relevant to constructing and delivering identification parades, such as the point of view of the suspect and witness or victim, how witnesses remember, and the factors likely to affect the accuracy of person descriptions. They also consider the effects of stereotypes and expectancies on identification performance, as well as a discussion of the technologies involved in identification procedure. The book includes a chapter on how to assist people who are deemed vulnerable in order to elicit accurate identification evidence. It also looks at other methods of identification in addition to face identification, such as methods to identify a person's voice and gait.

By providing an overview of legislation and guidelines to conducting identity parades alongside a psychological underpinning, this book is a valuable resource to anyone whose work involves identification procedures, as well as students of psychology, law and police studies.

Rachel Wilcock is Senior Lecturer in forensic psychology at London South Bank University. Eyewitness identification is her major research interest and in particular, investigation methods to improve the performance of older witnesses.

Ray Bull is Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Leicester. His major research topic is police investigative procedures and he was part of the team commissioned by the Home Office to write 'Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, Including Children (ABE)'.

Rebecca Milne is Principal Lecturer at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth. Dr Milne is the Academic Lead of the ACPO Investigative Interviewing Strategic Steering Group and is chair of the associated research sub-committee.

• Title: Witness Identification in Criminal Cases: Psychology and Practice
• Authors: Rachel Wilcock, Ray Bull and Rebecca Milne
• ISBN: 978-0-19-921693-2
• Binding: Paperback
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 11 September 2008
• Pages: 224
• Price: £34.99 (Paperback)

More information can be found on the Oxford University Press website .