Ella Watson

The recognition of a face is something expected to come with ease, it is a skill that we use each day, something that many people take for granted. We expect recognition of one another to remain despite changes to external features, a different haircut, or a new pair of glasses. To acknowledge and know somebody as your friend without them having to speak or address themselves or to recognise a co-worker outside of the office. An inability to do so may seem embarrassing, perhaps even rude. Difficulty with facial recognition is however remarkably common. Prosopagnosia, often referred to as facial blindness impacts as many as 3% of people, It is also remarkably common within autistic spectrum disorders. 

Composite images refer to the graphical depiction of an individual wanted by law enforcement based off eyewitness testimony, typically given during a cognitive interview. Facial memory, recall and recognition within autistic spectrum disorders hopes to listen to and represent those with differences in their facial recognition. Providing insight and findings that could alter current practice of police composite construction. The aim being to both better the experience of those undertaking an interview as well as creating a more accurate and widely recognisable composite image.