Overview
- Police say the system will scan faces in real time against a secure watchlist of people wanted for serious offences or assessed as posing a risk, with officers making any decision to engage after a potential match.
- Non‑watchlist biometric data will be deleted immediately, watchlist images will be removed within 24 hours after each deployment day, and associated CCTV will be retained for 21 days.
- Deployments will be clearly signposted, locations will be published in advance, and the public will be able to visit highly visible vans to view the technology and discuss safeguards.
- Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Wilson describes the tool as focused on locating high‑harm offenders and protecting vulnerable people, rejecting claims that it amounts to mass surveillance.
- Civil liberties groups including Liberty and Big Brother Watch warn of privacy risks and accuracy concerns for women and people of colour, and the EHRC has called the Met’s live facial recognition policy unlawful earlier this year.