WMP has a secret weapon in their fight against crimePCSO Andy Pope has a special ability which helps him to remember faces of wanted men and women in the regionPCSO Andy Pope has a special ability which helps him to remember faces of wanted men and women in the region(Image: WMP)

He never forgets a face and that is bad news for criminals.

PCSO Andy Pope possesses ‘super recogniser’ abilities and can remember the majority of faces he has seen, even if they were wearing a mask or in a crowd.

He is so good at recalling faces he has identified his 3,000th suspect whilst on patrol this year.

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The 47-year-old is part of the Safer Travel team and regularly patrols the transport network.

Andy will often look through CCTV, video stills and police briefings to keep himself updated on people who are wanted when starting a shift.

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It has seen him spot suspects in connection with a range of offences from attempted murder and assaults to sex attacks. These can often be in crowded places and award-winning Andy even managed to pick out people while they were wearing face masks during the CoVID pandemic.

Bournemouth University’s Centre for Face Processing Disorders (CFPD) has discovered that two per cent of the population have enhanced facial recognition abilities.

The bad news for criminals is the super spotter hasn’t any intention of stopping anytime soon.

Andy said: “I’m just glad I can assist in catching crime suspects and keeping communities safe across the West Midlands. “It’s really hard to explain how I manage to remember and spot faces, as it just comes natural. “It’s a nice feeling to have passed the 3,000 milestone since I started the role.

“I’m hoping there will be many more to come too!”