You witness a crime and

[Soubriquet]

A sketch artist is in their way to interview you to get an idea of what the suspect looks like.

Would you be able to give an accurate description including approx weight, approx height and approx age?

I would stand no chance. I can barely recognise people I’ve actually properly met before let alone some random criminal

I also have no idea on guessing on heights or weights and ages can be a big guess

I would be shite. Like, um he was normal height with you know normal hair, in blue or maybe black?

Precisely me

Years ago, I was the only witness to someone stealing from a shop. Call I can say was..”Urm he was a man, white…and escaped on a bike” that was it.

Not a chance. Terrible with faces.

I’d be pretty good at describing the bike! (Dd is a cyclist.)

I got it had two wheels

Yes.

I'd be awful. I just don't take in that kind of detail I normally have some kind of monologue going in my head about the things I need to do, or I'm trying to keep an eye on the eldest DC, or stop the youngest from grumping in the pram!

"Erm, a man, erm, my height, maybe a bit more. A black jacket I think?"

@Soubriquet

I got it had two wheels

hahaha. I would be the same - I am crazily faceblind, think due to ADHD related processing stuff.

But also, even if I weren't, I can't imagine being able to describe what I could remember to the degree that people do on drama shows, can you? Can't imagine being able to analyse the difference btween what they'd drawn and what I could remember, in any meaningful way? "His cheeks were less.. cheeky."

Totally hopeless. I couldn't even describe the people I work with every day.

Funnily enough I was talking to my husband about this last night. I would have no chance. I don't recognise extended family or neighbours who've lived near me for the past 10 years.

I can't picture my children's faces if I close my eyes either.

Yes. It’s something we often have to do at work

Having done exactly this once, and then being able to see a photo of the subject, I was pretty close on everything bar his weight. I got the build right, but couldn't estimate weight at all.

I did a really interesting Futurelearn course on this about the psychological techniques the police have to use to try and get useful eyewitness accounts as our memories are so shit www.futurelearn.com/courses/forensic-psychology

I remember watching something years ago about this and apparently if they ask you to describe the suspect immediately after the crime, you are more than likely to remember what the person looks like and describe it better. But if it's days later, your memory might be distorted. Given that, I have a good photographic memory and would be able to describe but then again I don't know how I would respond after witnessing something horrific.

I'd be awful. I knew two non-identical twins, and I'm the only person that had trouble telling them apart.

Working in retail years ago I learned to take notice. I’ve been learning art which has made me take far more notice of individual features. Think I’d do okay
DH cannot recognise anyone.

I would be good at that.
Today I was sitting on a bench waiting on my friend the guy standing at the bus stop was about
6ft
Black north face jacket
Blue jeans
nike max air trainers black/ white
I'm always clocking what people are wearing and especially what handbags they have
😆😆😆
DH rolls his eyes when I ask if he's seen what people are wearing.

I'd find this really hard, I have a good memory for faces but don't know how to describe them.

It’s how you are asked sometimes though, if you’re asked ‘describe the person you saw” it’s hard to put into words, if you were asked was it a M or F? Old or young? Black or white? Fat, thin average etc then you’d do ok but you can’t lead a witness, it has to come from them so that’s where the gap lies.

@mbosnz

I'd be awful. I knew two non-identical twins, and I'm the only person that had trouble telling them apart.

Plot twist with one being a boy and the other a girl?

I’d be rubbish at the face, and definitely the height. I’m awful at estimating height.
I’d be ok at the clothes, and a basic sex/race/hair colour & length too. Maybe accent but I’m pretty bad at identifying those as well.

Nope. I'm awful at remembering faces. I've had to identify a suspect in 2 different identity parades, one as a teen and one as an adult. I didn't pick the right person in either case. I also witnessed a car crash outside my house, watched the drunk driver for 5 minutes and still got their description completely wrong when the police interviewed me an hour later.

DH witnessed something which involved a firearm. The police were almost over interested in how he was able to describe and attest to the type of firearm it was. Apparently most people wouldn't be able to tell so specifically

No. It was dark and they were walking away from me.

Did speak to police though. Turns out i witnessed a stabbing. Didn't realise how serious it was until i read in the newspaper.