The Metropolitan Police deploying the use of live facial recognition technology in Croydon
Police are rolling out London’s first permanent facial recognition cameras. The live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, aimed at helping police catch suspects faster, will be installed in Croydon, south London.
The cameras scan faces and check them against a database of known criminals. Anyone not matched is automatically deleted.
They’ll be fixed to lampposts or buildings and will only operate when officers are available to monitor them.
Police have already been operating mobile facial recognition cameras from vans, allowing them to be deployed anywhere in the city.
Croydon Council Community Safety Cabinet Member Ola Kolade believes the use of this technology will improve safety in the area.
Speaking to ITV News London, Cllr Kolade said: "The safety of residents in Croydon is of paramount importance to the council and its partners, and when we previously piloted this, we saw lots of support from community groups and residents.
"The point of this new system is for it to be targeted; it works by looking at people who are on the police's list, and it enables the police to have those conversations."
Rebecca Vincent is calling the technology problematic for personal privacy Credit: ITV News London
Rebecca Vincent from the Big Brother Watch group has raised concerns about the facial recognition technology.
Vincent said to ITV News London: "This is a massive expansion of the surveillance state. Anybody coming through the Croydon town centre will have their faces scanned whether they are suspected of any crime or not.
"This new rollout is alarming and is another step towards a dystopian nightmare."
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