Volunteers are needed today and tomorrow as Police identity parades go high-tech.

Instead of witnesses being forced to attend a Police station to look at a line-up they can be shown video clips of potential suspects.

It will curb the cost and hassle of rounding up volunteers for identity parades as the images, burned onto a secure CD, can then be shown to witnesses at any location on a laptop usually in the presence of the suspect's lawyer.

So people wanting to earn themselves a fast $60 can head to Police HQ from noon to 8 p.m. or get picked up by specially laid-on bus transport.

Video ID has been used in the UK for last seven years and has proved reliable, credible, lawful and fair to both the witness and the suspect.

The suspect is filmed over 15 seconds looking to their left and then right. Filming is carried out in controlled conditions meaning that all the clips will look like they were done at the same time in the same room.

The Video ID database has 22,000 images of other real people of both genders, of all ages and covering 21 different ethnic origins and the suspect, his/her lawyer and the identification inspector then choose and agree a minimum of eight other persons who appear similar to the suspect to form a video Line up.

The system should be up and running within the next few months.

Up to 250 volunteers are being sought to attend filming at Police HQ at Prospect in Devonshire and have their image recorded on a 15 second video clip to add to the database.

Male volunteers aged between 17 and 40 years are particularly in demand but Police will accept anyone.

The video will be of the volunteer in a seated position and will record the head and shoulders. A full description of the volunteer is imputed with the image but their name and address is not entered on the system.

In return the Police will pay $60 in cash to each volunteer.

Volunteers must provide their name and signature but only for the purpose of receipt of payment and volunteers should not have any facial tattoos or ear-rings.

WHERE TO GET THE TRANSPORT

*Eastenders wanting to take part should get the bus from the swing bridge round about at St. George's at midday, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and tomorrow they should go at those same times to the car park at the aquarium in Flatts.

*Westenders should go today to the MarketPlace car park in Somerset at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and at those same times at Warwick Bowl tomorrow.

*Those in the central area should go to the TCD car park for the bus which runs at hourly intervals from noon to 7 p.m. both today and tomorrow.