Overview

• Berlin police established the Super Recognizer unit in June 2025 after a two-year trial to formalize the roles of its top five facial recognition officers.
• The specialized screening process invited all 18,500 Berlin officers in May 2023; neuroscience expert Meike Ramon led testing that identified 22 Super Recognizers from 1,500 participants.
• Team members assist probes by analyzing video and photo evidence, including matching faces in footage from the 2022/2023 New Year’s Eve disturbances.
• This year the unit averages 82 investigator requests per month, a slight decline from 94 monthly referrals in 2024.
• Other German states have inquired about the proprietary test, but legal constraints tied to its research origins have prompted Berlin to plan a revised rollout.