Social media helping identify rioters
Posted Jun 17, 2011 09:57:40 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Upset Vancouverites continue to turn to social media to express their outrage, and condemn the actions of those who tore apart downtown Vancouver Wednesday night.
They want to help police catch the people responsible for the destruction.
There are Facebook pages like ‘Vancouver Riot Pics: Post Your Photos‘ and ‘Canucks fans against the 2011 Vancouver Riots ‘, asking people to help police catch those crooks and put names to faces.
Dr. Kenneth Craig with UBC says some of those people are probably feeling awful about what they’ve done. “I think the vast majority of them must be experiencing some sense of bewilderment and shame and feelings of guilt”
He has some advice for those who want to ease those awful feelings. “We do know that when people do shameful things, probably the best way of expiating guilt, diminishing the sense of shame and guilt, is to turn to others and confess”.
The doctor says ‘coming clean’ may also reduce the chance of being charged with a crime.
In one case, a 17-year-old was turned himself in after he was spotted looting the Louis Vuitton store.
Technology Being Used
Premier Christy Clark says the province will be using ICBC‘s facial recognition technology to identify rioters. “I’ve talked to the Attorney General, I’ve directed the Solicitor General, to make sure we have all the resources available that Vancouver Police and the major case unit needs to do the job well.”
Clark is also asking for people to submit the names of people who showed bravery and heroism during the riot, so they can be honoured by the BC government.
Rewarding those who helped
The Bay store downtown will be hosting a free pancake breakfast Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 on the Granville Street side of the store.
The company wants to reward the people who tried to protect the store during the riot, and those who donated their time to Thursday’s massive volunteer cleanup effort.
