Police in Newry Mourne and Down are rolling out an Operation Exposure social media campaign which will see images of people officers want to identify published on local Facebook pages.
Superintendent Paul Reid said: “You will see images of people appear on our local PSNI Facebook pages over the coming weeks who we would like to speak to in relation to various matters.
“If you know who these individuals are please do not post on our social media but contact us directly by phoning 101and quoting the reference provided.
“The community response in other policing Districts has been really positive around this initiative and we are confident that the public in Newry, Mourne and Down and beyond will support us in our efforts to solve crime, give victims justice, and keep people safe.”
Images are only used within a set of stringent guidelines and authorised by the District Commander.
These guidelines include:
* the prevention and detection of crime
* the apprehension of suspects
* encouraging victims to come forward
* discouraging offenders
* reassuring and informing the public
* re-enforcing confidence in the criminal justice system.
All other methods of identification must also have been attempted and failed before a photo is used. Each photo is only posted for 24-hours before being deleted and anyone who recognises the person can contact police on the non-emergency number 101.
Comments on Facebook naming the person are not permitted.
Lawful authority for the use of an image under Op Exposure is through Section 32 of the Police Act (NI) 2000.
