Met Police to 'trial' handheld facial-recognition tech | Computer Weekly

"Known as Operator-Initiated Facial Recognition (OIFR), the technology uses a mobile phone app to capture images of people's faces and compare them to police databases in real-time. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that OIFR would allow officers to check and verify the details of any individuals stopped, instead of having to arrest them and take them to a police station."

"The Met's website still states at the time of publication that it 'does not presently use the so-called operator-initiated facial recognition', with the information only becoming public after Khan was pressed about the technology's use by Green London Assembly member Zoe Garbett. She added during the meeting that this development is 'alarming' and changes the relationship between the police and the public."

"Londoners deserve transparency when it comes to such a fundamental expansion of police powers. What's even more concerning is the Met's website explicitly says they do not use this technology. We already have no clear legal framework for live facial recognition."

The Metropolitan Police are launching a six-month pilot of Operator-Initiated Facial Recognition (OIFR) technology, which enables officers to capture and verify individuals' facial images in real-time using mobile phone apps. The trial involves approximately 100 devices with £763,000 allocated funding. This technology allows police to check and verify details of stopped individuals without requiring arrest or transport to police stations. The announcement was made by London Mayor Sadiq Khan after questioning by Green Assembly member Zoe Garbett. Concerns have been raised about transparency, as the Met's website previously stated it does not use such technology. The trial follows ongoing Home Office consultation on facial recognition legal frameworks and a High Court judicial review regarding the Met's lawful use of live facial recognition technology.

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