Identification parade: meaning, definitions and examples

Used chiefly in British English, this term refers to a formal procedure in which a witness to a crime is asked to identify a suspect from a line of similar-looking individuals. It is usually a carefully controlled process conducted by the police.

• The witness managed to pick the suspect out of the identification parade.
• During the identification parade, the suspect remained calm and collected.

Common in American English, this term is similar to 'identification parade' and refers to an arrangement of individuals for identification. It is often conducted by police and used in criminal investigations. The term can also have everyday usage meaning a queue or series of people or things.

• The victim was asked to identify the attacker from the lineup.
• The concert lineup this year includes some of the most famous rock bands.

This term is used in a more specific legal context, often referring to the presentation of a single suspect to a witness shortly after the crime occurred. It differs from a lineup as only one person is shown and can be considered suggestive, sometimes leading to questions about its fairness.

• The police conducted a showup at the scene where the witness was asked to identify the suspect immediately.
• There are concerns that showups may be less reliable than lineups due to their suggestive nature.