The use of live facial recognition cameras by police should be expanded significantly to help protect women and girls from sex predators, a Home Office minister said on Thursday.
Policing minister Chris Philp made the call after a suspected rapist, along with other crime suspects, was caught during a deployment of the technology in south London.
He said the success showed the “huge potential” of live facial recognition and how it could “revolutionise law enforcement” and that it should be used more extensively to arrest wanted sex offenders and other serious criminals.
He added that it could be particularly useful in night life hotspots such as the West End to identify predatory men looking to target women, as well as around Tube, rail and bus stations where offenders might pass through.
Describing the recent successful use of live facial recognition in Croydon, Mr Philp told the Standard it was a “fantastic operation” which highlighted the benefits that more extensive use of the technology would bring.
“In an afternoon they made seven arrests for serious offences including rape. I would like to see police across the country adopting this technology to identify and arrest serious wanted criminals, especially sex offenders, violent criminals and drug dealers who are wanted and would not otherwise be caught. This has huge potential. This technology could revolutionise law enforcement.
“This will keep victims including women and girls safer from predators who would otherwise not be arrested.
“Places such as night spots where women may be targeted by predators would be particularly suitable for this kind of technology.”
Those arrested after being spotted on live facial recognition during the recent Met operation, which targeted areas near East Croydon and West Croydon stations, include a 29-year-old on suspicion of rape and burglary and a 30-year-old man wanted on suspicion of drugs supply and robbery. Others held include an offender wanted on recall to prison for robbery and man arrested over an alleged GBH attack.
The Met has used live facial recognition cameras on a limited number of occasions since deciding in 2020 to adopt the technology as part of its policing armoury.
The deployments included the use of the technology at a Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham and another occasion in Soho. Arrests resulted both times. It has also used the technology in Camden to target knife and other offenders.
Civil liberties campaigners have opposed the technology, warning of potential “false positives” and the risk of disproportionality.
The Met has insisted, however, that the cameras are accurate and are used only to identify those included on “watch lists” of wanted suspects that are compiled specifically for each deployment and deleted immediately afterwards.
It has also pointed out that the cameras are only deployed temporarily on each occasion they are used and that their presence is advertised to the public rather than being covert.
