New rules to prevent suspects changing their appearance at police identity parades could be introduced by the Government in a new code of practice.

The review of identification procedures comes as a man suspected of assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a Keighley park was set free because his victim failed to identify him after he had dramatically changed his looks.

The girl from Keighley, who is referred to simply as Gemma to protect her identity because of her age and the nature of the offence, was assaulted in Lund Park, Keighley.

Her case has been taken up by Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer, who wants the new rules to require the police to take a photograph or a video of a suspect at the same time they take fingerprints.

"I am not blaming the police for this situation. They have to be very careful about people's civil liberties," she said.

"But I do think there should be new requirements to record a person's identity upon arrest in case they later change it before an identification parade."

When the suspected attacker appeared for the parade he had shaved his head. All the other men had hair so the police made them wear woolly hats in at attempt to make the parade fair.

Mrs Cryer plans to take the girl to meet Home Office Minister Charles Clarke so she can give him a first hand account of her problems at the parade.

And she will take along a petition from Keighley people calling for changes to the rules at identification parades.

In a Parliamentary question, Mrs Cryer asked the Minister if there were any plans to stop people changing their appearance before parades.

The girl's family has also written to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging action.

Mrs Cryer said: "Perhaps we could make greater use of photographs or videos on arrest to protect the likes of Gemma, so other women and girls do not have to experience such a distressing and unresolved situation."

In reply, Mr Clarke said: "The code of practice governing identification procedures is under review, so an opportunity is provided to reconsider the detailed rules."

A particular area being looked by the Government is where a suspect is dressed in such a way as to disguise a distinguishing feature.

Keighley Police Superintendent Derek Bonnard said he would welcome a review of the identification procedure.

"We need to make sure it is up-to-date and as fair as possible for all the people involved," he said.

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