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Hunt for G20 riot ringleaders goes hi-tech
By IAN ROBERTSON
Toronto Police are using hi-tech facial recognition software to comb through tens of thousands of images in the hunt for the ringleaders of the G20 riots, the lead investigator says.
The DVD images come from closed-circuit cameras installed throughout the downtown area, 12 metres above street-level, Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux says.
Some of the 28,000 images from private and police cameras plus 500 to 600 videos have been given to a Canadian Bankers Association facial recognition specialist, Giroux said. “The analyst does have the materials.”
The team concentrated for weeks on identifying the most-easily-recognized suspects from the best photos, he said in an interview.
“We’re moving into an area we expect to be more of a challenge … the core crowd responsible for the large dollar value damage.”
Civilians turned in about 80% of the images police have, after public appeals for help in identifying thugs who burned four cruisers and smashed store windows, the detective said.
He had “no knowledge” of cops posing as journalists and denied police used pictures seized from arrested suspects, saying “that’s not the case.”
After having charges of obstructing a peace officer and unlawful assembly dropped, National Post staff photographer Brett Gundlock said one camera’s memory card was not returned.
“I was just photographing the demonstrations,” he told the Sun.
“Police gave me my camera back, but not my memory card … my buddy grabbed my other camera, so I had those photos,” he said.
Police photographers who took about 5,600 pictures, wore “casual clothes, in an undercover capacity, Giroux said.
“Some were attacked” by Black Bloc hooligans, either verbally or with sticks aimed at cameras to prevent photos being taken, he said.
Similar threats convinced some civilians to submit their images, Giroux said, adding “we’re still asking for them.”
Police photographers weren’t injured, he said. “But some cameras needed repairing.”
Many Black Bloc vandals used “sophisticated” methods to blend back among peaceful protesters, shedding dark clothes and face coverings in what Giroux called “deBlocing.”
Convinced they know the identities of some marauders, including New Yorkers, he said forces in the U.S. and other parts of Canada have been asked for help — including confirmation and possible arrests.
Source: http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/08/28/15172396.html