The Metropolitan Police has made more than one hundred arrests of wanted individuals during the initial phase of a groundbreaking pilot scheme in south London. For the first time in the capital, live facial recognition (LFR) cameras have been fixed to street furniture like lamp posts in Croydon, with their feeds monitored remotely by officers.
A Targeted Approach in a Crime Hotspot
According to the Met, Croydon was specifically chosen for this trial because it is a designated "crime hotspot". The force has stated there are currently no plans to extend this particular fixed-camera scheme to other boroughs. The technology is not constantly active; the LFR cameras are only switched on when officers are present and managing a specific deployment.
The results have been significant. Since the start of 2024, LFR operations in Croydon have resulted in 249 arrests, with 193 of those individuals subsequently charged or cautioned. Notably, a third of all arrests made using LFR across London were for offences involving violence against women and girls.
High-Profile Captures and National Rollout
Among those apprehended were high-priority suspects who had evaded capture for years. They included:
- A woman wanted for failing to appear in court for an assault in 2004, who had been at large for over two decades.
- A man suspected of kidnap.
- A sex offender believed to have breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Nationally, the Met reports that LFR technology has taken more than 1,700 offenders off London's streets since January 2024. This success has prompted an expanded national pilot. In November, forces including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Thames Valley Police rolled out new fleets of LFR vans, joining earlier adopters like South Wales Police.
Controversy and the Call for Regulation
Despite the operational successes, the technology faces staunch opposition from civil liberty and human rights organisations. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last year described the Met's policy on LFR as "unlawful", arguing its safeguards "fall short" and its use at protests could have a "chilling effect" on rights.
Campaign group Big Brother Watch has condemned what it calls "facial recognition surveillance," claiming it turns the country into "an open prison." In response, the Met insists its use is "both lawful and proportionate, playing a key role in keeping Londoners safe."
The government is now seeking to formalise the rules around this powerful tool. In December, ministers launched a 10-week consultation on regulating police use of facial recognition and protecting privacy. Proposals include creating a new regulator to oversee biometric tools, with the Home Office having spent £6.6 million last year on evaluating and adopting the technology.
Lindsey Chiswick, the Met's lead for LFR, highlighted public support, stating "85% of Londoners back the use of LFR to keep them safe." She emphasised that the Croydon pilot explores a more efficient, remote method of using the technology, which has already proven its impact in making the area safer.
