The fight against crime could receive an important boost thanks to innovative technology that produces better photofits of criminal suspects. The EigenFIT system, which won a runners–up prize in the 2004 Research Councils Business Plan Competition, has now been used in a trial criminal case and is scheduled for commercial release within the next six months.

EigenFIT aims to help police by producing significantly more accurate facial composites of suspects much more quickly than currently available commercial products. It can also be used to undertake scene-of-crime searches against police databases and is much easier for witnesses to use. Collectively, these benefits offer the promise of improved speed and efficiency in crime detection. 

Dr Chris Solomon from EigenFIT

As well as focusing on both the UK and international markets, longer-term plans are in place to develop a range of other products based on the technology underlying the EigenFIT system. Potential target markets include the beauty, cosmetics and cosmetic surgery industries, the advertising industry and forensic age progression.  

In parallel with ongoing research to refine the technology, EigenFIT has also taken an important business step – the acquisition of Apsley Ltd, manufacturers and distributors of the current market-leading photofit system E-FIT. The acquisition process is now at an advanced stage.

EigenFIT has been developed by EigenFIT Ltd. This spin-out company from the Forensic Imaging Group at the University of Kent owns the Intellectual Property generated by work on the new system. Dr Chris Solomon has played a key role in the drive to develop and commercialise EigenFIT.  

Dr Solomon says: “The Business Plan Competition has benefited the development of our product in a number of ways. It has really helped us to focus our efforts and to structure our thinking. Of course, the publicity generated for EigenFIT as a result of taking part in the competition has also been very welcome”.

For more information contact: Dr Chris Solomon, University of Kent, Tel: 01227 823270, E-mail: C.J.Solomon@kent.ac.uk