Police are now 'responding to a legitimate concern' says Mayor

TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS SEE BRUISING IN DARKER SKIN EARNS PRAISE FROM KHAN

- By LILY SHANAGHER

THE Mayor of London has praised new police technology which helps to visualise bruising in darker skin, unveiled as part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.

Sir Sadiq Khan said the device developed by the Metropolitan Police was an example of "how much the police has changed in the last few years".

The devices, known as Project Archway, allow officers to better assess victims' injuries, particularly on darker skin, by making it easier to photograph and visualise bruising.

The Mayor was shown the new technology last week and spoke with Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and officers who are piloting the devices.

The handheld device is the first of its kind to be developed and uses a technique called cross-polarisation to make injuries clearer that may not appear to the naked eye.

Of 33 uses during a pilot in south London, 45 per cent have resulted in charges, with several others under investigation, the Met Police said.

The device has undergone ethical scrutiny and wide consultation, including input from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Black Police Association, and the Met Ethics Board. Officers are specially trained prior to use and can only use the device with full consent from victims.