Live facial recognition to be introduced in city

Live facial recognition (LFR) technology will be introduced in a city as part of a police force's efforts to prevent crime, protect the public and safeguard vulnerable people.

Avon and Somerset Police said the LFR technology will be overt and clearly signposted when it is rolled out in Bath on 25 November.

LFR uses CCTV cameras to help police identify people in crowded spaces who are on pre-authorised watchlists. All captured images that do not match someone on the watchlist are automatically and permanently deleted.

Insp Stuart King, the force's operational lead for LFR, said the tactic would only be used when it was "lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so".

The technology is already in place elsewhere around the country, including in parts of London, Devon and Bradford.

The technology works on a closed network and compares facial images captured on live CCTV cameras against a list of people suspected of serious offences, wanted by the courts, or those who may post an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others.

When a possible match is identified by the system, trained police officers review the alert and may carry out further checks before deciding whether any action is necessary.

The technology does not make decisions by itself and is governed by strict legal, data protection and equality safeguards, the force said.

Police said the technology would be deployed using marked vehicles and signage and officers would be available to answer any questions from members of the public.

According to King, Bath was selected for the policing area's first deployment because of its high levels of footfall, particularly in the lead up to Christmas.

"As with many thriving city centres, Bath experiences the range of policing challenges associated with large numbers of residents, workers and visitors," he said.

"Deploying LFR in a busy urban environment will help us understand how the technology can best support officers in keeping people safe and preventing harm," he added.

He said the technology may be deployed elsewhere across the Avon and Somerset patch in the future.

Clare Moody, police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset, said: "I want to assure people in Avon and Somerset that I will be monitoring the police use of LFR closely and that I have worked with local communities and the police force to ensure fair and robust scrutiny processes are in place."

She also said community leaders, academics, experts and residents were consulted before the deployment was agreed.

"I welcome this constructive engagement between communities, Avon and Somerset Police and my office, which has helped ensure public concerns were considered from an early stage and will continue to be represented throughout ongoing scrutiny," she added.

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