Government expands live facial recognition vans across seven police forces
The Home Office will deploy ten new live facial recognition vans across England to help police locate suspects in serious crimes, prompting praise from officials and concerns from civil liberties groups over privacy.
Home Office ramps up LFR deployment
The Home Office will supply ten new live facial recognition (LFR) vans to seven police forces in England, aiming to identify suspects in serious crimes such as sexual offences, violent assaults and homicides.
Prior deployments and results
LFR was first used in Wales in 2017 and later rolled out in London and Essex, including at major events. Government data shows it led to 580 arrests in London over 12 months, including 52 registered sex offenders breaching their conditions.
Privacy concerns and legal challenges
Campaigners such as Big Brother Watch and Liberty warn that expanding this surveillance risks eroding civil liberties. Big Brother Watch has launched a legal challenge against the Metropolitan Police, while Liberty calls for a statutory framework before any further rollout.
Safeguards and oversight
- Officers must follow College of Policing guidance and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.
- The National Physical Laboratory found the LFR algorithm accurate with no detectable bias at operational settings.
- A public consultation on transparency and safeguards is under way.
Enhanced community policing
The Home Office also confirmed that every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have a named, contactable officer, with forces committing to respond within 72 hours to public inquiries.
While authorities argue LFR vans are crucial for targeting serious offenders, rights groups warn that unchecked expansion could undermine privacy and public trust.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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