A new facial recognition system has been unveiled by the gardaí.

The photography section of the force will use EvoFit technologies to help with the identification process in investigations.

The system constructs facial composites of offenders by witnesses and victims of crime.

The method is used by police forces around the world.

EvoFit has a suspect identification rate of about 60% - approximately ten times higher than traditional methods used.

It is the result of over 15 years of intensive laboratory research, leading to more than 30 peer-reviewed technical papers, and police field trials.

Under the system, witnesses and victims select from screens of complete faces and a composite is 'evolved' over time. The system does not require eyewitnesses to have good recall of an offender's face, but just to have seen it clearly.

The approach aims to construct the most identifiable set of features - the central region of the face - that is important for recognition by another person later.

The system has a large range of hairstyles, hats, caps and hoods.

There are tools available to improve likeness on demand - such as to change the perceived age, weight, masculinity, health and other properties of the face.

It is also possible to manipulate individual features of the face - eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

This means that rather than being asked to remember and describe the type of nose, eye and face-shape - witnesses are shown a series of faces from a database.

Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan says the system has been used successfully by a number of forces.

Commissioner O’Sullivan was given a  demonstration of how the system works: