Merseyside Police make six arrests using Live Facial Recognition in Liverpool
Merseyside Police deployed Live Facial Recognition cameras in Liverpool city centre, resulting in six arrests. The force says biometric data is not stored for those not on its watchlist.
Six arrests as Merseyside Police deploy facial recognition cameras in Liverpool city centre
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology has been launched by Merseyside Police in Liverpool city centre, resulting in six arrests during what the force has described as its most successful deployment of the system to date, itv.com reports.
The operation used vans supplied to Greater Manchester Police by the Home Office. A previous three-day deployment under the same arrangement saw seven people arrested.
LFR works by scanning faces captured on a live camera feed and comparing them against a watchlist of individuals wanted for serious offences. When the system flags a potential match, a police officer reviews the image and decides whether to approach the person.
Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Wilson said the technology was "a vital tool that will help us quickly identify and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to our communities." She described LFR as allowing officers "to locate high-harm offenders swiftly and effectively" and as an example of "working smarter" to strengthen neighbourhood policing across Merseyside.
The force confirmed that biometric data is not retained for anyone who does not appear on the pre-approved watchlist. Images of those on the watchlist are deleted within 24 hours after each deployment day, and any CCTV footage is removed within 31 days — consistent with standard public camera protocols.
Wilson addressed privacy concerns directly, stating: "This is not mass surveillance. Anyone not included on a watchlist cannot be identified. This technology is focused solely on preventing and detecting crime and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities."
She added that strict checks are conducted before each deployment to ensure the use of the technology is "both necessary and proportionate," and that the force is committed to addressing privacy questions "openly and responsibly."
Members of the public are invited to approach the vans while in operation to observe how the system functions and speak with officers about the safeguards in place.
Merseyside is among several forces across England and Wales trialling LFR, following its use by the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police since 2017. The current deployment forms part of Merseyside Police's Winter of Action operation, which runs throughout the festive period and into the new year, targeting crime and seeking to reassure local communities.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)