"Facial recognition technology could be used more often by UK police forces, according to new plans announced by the Home Office. Policing and crime minister Sarah Jones said a widespread rollout of the equipment could mark "the biggest breakthrough" in catching criminals since DNA matching. People have been asked for their views on its use in a 10-week consultation launched on Thursday, possibly paving the way for new laws."
"Jones credited the technology for helping to arrest "thousands" of criminals, but campaign group Big Brother Watch said increased use would make George Orwell "roll in his grave". Facial recognition is used to locate wanted suspects and find vulnerable people. According to the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police has made 1,300 arrests using the technology since 2023, including rapists and violent offenders."
""Facial recognition is the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching," Jones said. "We will expand its use so that forces can put more criminals behind bars and tackle crime in their communities." The Home Office invested 12.6m in facial recognition in 2024, of which 2.8m was spent on live recognition. A new fleet of mobile vans was rolled out by several forces in November, expanding a pilot programme already led by the Met, South Wales Police and Essex Police."
The Home Office plans to expand police use of facial recognition and proposes creation of a regulator for biometrics, with a 10-week public consultation that could inform new laws. The technology is credited with helping to arrest thousands, with the Metropolitan Police reporting about 1,300 arrests since 2023, including rapists and violent offenders. The government invested 12.6m in 2024, including 2.8m on live recognition, and deployed mobile vans to extend pilot programmes led by the Met, South Wales and Essex Police. Opponents warn the wider rollout raises serious privacy and civil liberties concerns. Any new legislation would take around two years.
Read at www.bbc.com
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