Police roll out facial recognition

SOUTH Wales Police will help roll out live facial recognition across the country as part of a UK Government overhaul of neighbourhood policing.

- SION MORGAN and NINA LLOYD

The technology will be deployed to catch “high-harm” offenders, with new rules drawn up to support its use and ensure “safeguards and oversight”, the Home Office said.

Some 10 vans equipped with cameras will be rolled out across seven police forces - Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire - over the coming weeks.

Existing rules require checks only to be done against police watchlists of wanted criminals, suspects and those subject to bail or court order conditions like sex offenders.

But a UK Government consultation will launch in the autumn to help “shape a new legal framework” on its use, taking views on when and how the technology should be deployed.

Privacy campaigners have previously voiced concerns about a potential lack of regulation and transparency over the expansion of the technology.

The vans will be manned by trained officers and individual forces will decide when they are deployed in their areas, operating within the College of Policing guidance.