The tech whizzes working around the clock to catch criminals in NSW

Facial recognition is proving to be an invaluable tool for NSW Police, as a team of tech whizzes work around the clock to catch criminals across the state.

Members of the Facial Recognition Unit State Intelligence Command, pictured at Police HQ in Parramatta. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Facial recognition software is being used by NSW Police to identify suspects in crimes ranging from violent protests to sexual offences and murders, The Daily Telegraph can reveal for the first time.

The team of tech whizzes ­secretly works around the clock, monitoring images of wanted people captured on CCTV cameras, police body cams and social media before feeding them into a NSW Police database that cross-checks against people’s mugshots to help identify them.

Detective Superintendent Damien Beaufils, head of the State Intelligence Covert Services branch, told the Telegraph that the Facial Recognition Unit had proved an “invaluable tool” in cracking some major crimes recently.

He said the system gave detectives a starting point in investigations, adding: “We don’t have access to driver’s licence images or passports ­unless we make a request, which has to be justified and processed, and not instantaneous like on TV – it is not used to track people.”

Members of the Facial Recognition Unit State Intelligence Command, pictured L to R: Dallas Maher, Sergeant Robert Dickinson, Rita Raco and Snr Const. Anthony Pickering. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Star and Crown casinos and Venues NSW pubs and clubs as well as Sydney Allianz Stadium, the SCG and Qudos Bank Arena all use real-time facial recognition software to identify barred fans.

In the case of the stadiums, the facial recognition tech can spot a person in their database as they are approaching the venue.

However, the NSW Police are not allowed to use the technology in the same way as these organisations do.

“We are very conscious to identify criminals and also ­victims in a lawful manner using facial recognition and have strict protocols and parameters which we are allowed to operate under,’’ Supt Beaufils said.

The unit has had some recent successes, particularly in the aftermath of the Wakeley riots outside the Good Shepard Church last year.

The wild scenes where a mob took part in a riot outside the Wakeley church. Picture: Liam Mendes

Facial recognition was also used to help investigators in the alleged attempt to kill John Ibrahim at his Dover Heights home in July last year, leading to the arrest of two men allegedly involved in supplying cars.

They have not entered pleas and remain before the courts.

The team has had increasing success with sex offenders and other crimes on public transport.

“We have a terrific relationship with (public transport operators) and the quality of the CCTV they are able to provide us with has led to a significant number of arrests for those who have committed offences on trains and buses,” Supt Beaufils said.

Keven Dixon was busted with the help of facial recognition.

Facial recognition was also used to catch Jordan Rosier.

The Facial Recognition Unit’s team members follow a strict process, which involves them scrutinising images themselves – as opposed to using computers or AI – before providing leads to help detectives in investigations. “The officers in this unit are highly trained,’’ Supt Beaufils said.

Victims’ advocate Howard Brown said it was “crazy” that police did not have access to legally obtained images such as driver’s licences to help catch criminals.

“They are collected legally and with the person’s consent, to have police limited to a database basically of known criminals is crazy,” he said. “Cleanskins commit crimes.

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Originally published as The tech whizzes working around the clock to catch criminals in NSW