Facebook searches could prejudice trials

VICTIMS and witnesses trying to identify suspects on social networking websites are causing trials to collapse.

The Police Federation's national detectives' forum told Police Review that cases have been dropped or ended with no further action taken because victims or witnesses have browsed Facebook or Twitter to identify a suspect.

In one case, a victim was attacked outside a house party. They then looked through friends of friends on Facebook to find the name of an individual they believed to be responsible.

The suspect was arrested but evidence from the formal identity procedure was found inadmissible when the court discovered that both the victim and witness had seen the suspect's photograph online numerous times. No further action was taken.