Regular Offenders Can be Identified by Facial Recognition Technology

Regular Offenders Can be Identified by Facial Recognition Technology

AMSTELVEEN, The Netherlands, January 27/PRNewswire/ --

- LogicaCMG and Zuidplein Shopping Centre Complete Successful Facial
Recognition Trial



LogicaCMG and Zuidplein Shopping Centre in Rotterdam today announced the
successful completion of a trial with facial recognition technology. The aim
of the trial was to investigate whether facial recognition technology could
support the Zuidplein security staff in tracking habitual shoplifters. The
results showed that over 90% of the regular offenders were recognised with
the aid of the software.



During the trial, which lasted several weeks, the facial recognition
system was implemented in the reception centre at Zuidplein. It was connected
to the shopping centre's existing camera infrastructure and the images picked
up by the monitoring cameras were sent to the facial recognition system,
which contained a database of photographs of volunteers who agreed to be
registered as regular shoplifters. The application searched the received
images for faces and compared them with photographs stored in the database on
the basis of a number of face characteristics. With optimisation of the
camera infrastructure in terms of using more cameras and better light as well
as positioning the cameras differently, an even higher percentage could be
achieved in future.



The difference between this one and earlier trials of facial recognition
used to support the tracking of regular shoplifters was that in this trial
the offenders had to be recognised while walking around in the public area of
the shopping centre (the pathway along the shops) in Zuidplein instead
through cameras installed in the shops itself.



Zuidplein Shopping Centre has over 160 shops and receives over 10 million
visitors a year. It invests a lot in the comfort and safety of its visitors
and the shopkeepers established there. One area of focus is the combating of
shoplifting. It is often difficult for the security staff to spot regular
offenders in the midst of large numbers of shoppers, but facial recognition
technology can solve this problem.



According to Monique van Geemert, manager of Zuidplein Shopping Centre,
automatic facial recognition will deliver big benefits. "We are doing
everything we can to optimise the shopping experience in the centre. The
implementation of biometric technology will increase the chances of catching
regular offenders, without the honest shoppers being aware of it."



Paul Schuyt, CEO of LogicaCMG in the Netherlands, says: "This trial
proves that the application of facial recognition can support the tracking of
regular offenders among large groups of shoppers. LogicaCMG is currently
examining possibilities of connecting a facial recognition system to mobile
devices, such as PDAs, so that the system can be accessed from any location."



Notes to Editors:



About Zuidplein Shopping Centre




Zuidplein Shopping Centre is a shopping mall with a regional function.
It was built in 1972 and extensively renovated between 1999 and 2002. The
centre has around 160 shops on an overall sales area of around 75,000 m2,
making it one of the biggest shopping centres in the Netherlands. It has
its own car park, with spaces for 1,400 cars. Meeùs Vastgoedmanagement B.V.
is responsible for the management of the centre. See the website
www.zuidplein.nu for further information.



About LogicaCMG



LogicaCMG is a major international force in IT services and wireless
telecoms. It provides management and IT consultancy, systems integration and
outsourcing services to clients across diverse markets including public
sector, telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry,
distribution and transport. Formed in December 2002, through the merger of
Logica and CMG, the company employs around 20,000 staff in offices across 34
countries and has nearly 40 years of experience in IT services. Headquartered
in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock
exchanges (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available from
www.logicacmg.com



Source: LogicaCMG

LogicaCMG, Saskia Huuskes, Press relations, Tel: +31-(0)20-571-3777, Fax: +31-(0)-20-571-3760, E-mail: pr@logicacmg.nl or Zuidplein Shopping Centre, Monique van Geemert, Tel: +31(0)10-481-03-44, Fax: +31(0)10-481-07-43, E-mail: zuidplein.geemert@planet.nl


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