A woman who was attacked as she walked along the railway trail has urged Police to speed up their review of how identify parades are held after she was forced to come face to face with a suspect.

The victim, who did not wish to be named, said changes had to be made sooner rather than later to prevent anybody else going through the same anguish as her.

She was in surgery for three hours after being deliberately knocked against a wall by a man on a moped, who then robbed her of her purse.

She suffered head and leg injuries in the daylight attack in Somerset more than five weeks ago, and faced additional trauma at the identity parade.

Just three days after the vicious attack, she was asked to try to identify the suspect at a Police line up.

But she said she could not believe it when she was told she would have to enter the same room as the people in the line-up, including the suspect, as officers were not using a two-way mirror.

The mother said: "My response was that it was barbaric -- I could not comprehend that I had to go into the same room as them, without a two-way mirror.

"They would not allow me to take my husband in either, which made me feel even more uncomfortable, but I knew it was something I had to do, so went straight ahead and agreed.

"I was not given as much instruction as I had believed I would be and I was very shaky -- it was very intimidating.

"My overriding feeling was that I just wanted to get out of there.'' She praised Police for the professional way they handled the case, but she said more sensitivity had to be given to the way victims felt and what they were going through after incidents and crimes.

She added: "This was a number of weeks ago and I complained straight afterwards, but I don't think anything will have been done.

"I think that the Police should look at their long-term procedures now, sooner rather than later, because I don't think anybody else should be forced to go through that. They need to deal with this now.

"Apparently, the Police do have a two-way mirror. They should change their procedures so it is used all of the time and they should ensure that those procedures are used as soon as possible.'' A spokesman for the Police said officers were very sensitive to the fact that female assault victims participating in an ID parade could experience some discomfort, especially when the process took place with no barrier between the victim and the accused.

But he added: "The rights of the accused must also be taken into full consideration.

"One of the guidelines directing this procedure specifically states that once an ID parade has been formed, everything thereafter pertaining to it should take place in the presence and hearing of the accused.

"If a two-way mirror is to be used, therefore, the accused must have a representative on the other side of the mirror that can verify the proceedings.

"This safeguard is in place to pre-empt any concerns about Police exerting undue influence on the victim or interfering with the identification process.

"We allow that there can be some improvements to this process, and several options have been identified to address both the issues of sensitivity and basic rights of all concerned.

"These continue to be explored in the hope that they can be adopted in the near future.'' It is not law for Police who are carrying out an ID parade using a two-way mirror to ensure the accused is represented, but a safeguard of Bermuda Police policy.