Police arrested 17 suspects and seized ammunition, drugs and stolen property in a crime crackdown in south London using facial recognition technology to identify suspects.
The operation in Croydon and Tooting was carried out over three days with specialist officers deployed.
The technology they were using identifies people who are on a ‘watchlist’ which can include those who are wanted, have outstanding arrest warrants as issued by the court, or to ensure a person is complying with their conditions.
During three Live Facial Recognition deployments this week a 23-year-old man in Tooting was found with two rounds of blank ammunition.
A section 18 search warrant was authorised for that evening where officers found six rounds of ammunition, stolen mobile phones, a large quantity of cannabis and a stolen Oyster card linked to a robbery in 2022.
He remains in police custody.
Arrests in Croydon included a man wanted for assault and others for burglar, theft and dodging warrants out for their arrest.
One sex offender was detained for breaching an order and three man were arrested on suspicion of carrying knives.
Lindsey Chiswick, Director of Intelligence for the Met and national lead for Facial Recognition, said: “Precision policing is us working efficiently to deliver a high level of service for Londoners.
“We do not keep your data. If there is no match, your data is immediately and automatically deleted in seconds.
“An independent study has confirmed the algorithm we use is accurate. Through this testing we also understand how to use the technology in a fair way with no bias in relation to race or gender.
“Ultimately Live Facial Recognition technology is here to keep Londoners safe through accurately identifying people the police want to talk to.”
