Police in the UK to expand live facial recognition despite criticism

Authorities in Manchester and Bradford have reported instances of arrests and missing-person cases, amid increasing opposition from civil liberties groups regarding the police's implementation of live facial recognition technology.

Live facial recognition technology is being increasingly implemented across the UK, with police reporting the results of recent operations in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, including arrests, recoveries of missing persons, and monitoring of compliance. Greater Manchester Police [1] utilized this technology at Manchester's Caribbean Carnival. The two-day event, which occurred from August 8, attracted tens of thousands of attendees, with police stating that they collaborated closely with parents and stakeholders to facilitate the carnival.

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson [2] for Greater Manchester police noted that only “a fraction” of attendees were arrested during the event. “This year’s carnival was a fantastic success from a policing perspective the overwhelming majority of people enjoyed themselves sensibly and safely. A lot of policing work goes into making sure people stay safe during events of this nature, and I would like to thank each officer involved for their hard work. As with any event involving such a huge amount of people, a fraction of people were arrested for various reasons with our officers quickly on hand to deal with situations where necessary.”

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson also claims that LFR has proven to be an effective tool for identifying various subjects, including wanted criminals and missing persons, achieving this with a high degree of accuracy and without instances of misidentification. “LFR has been a great tool in identifying everything from wanted criminals to missing people, doing so accurately and without any misidentifications. By working closely with Carnival organisers and the local community, we hope to continue building stronger links going forward, to ensure that we can provide the best possible policing service.”

West Yorkshire Police have announced [3] the arrest of several individuals and the recovery of a weapon during their recent deployment of LFR cameras in Bradford city centre. The operation took place from August 19 to 21 and successfully identified four individuals wanted for criminal offenses, all of whom were apprehended. One of the suspects was found in possession of a knuckle duster and was further detained on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon. Additionally, the operation aided in locating a missing person.

Since February 2026, LFR vans [4] have conducted 17 visits to Bradford resulting in 29 arrests. The technology has also identified 21 individuals under Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, allowing officers to verify compliance. Inspector Justin Adams from [5] the Bradford City Neighbourhood Policing Team stated that the technology is proving effective in both locating wanted persons and protecting vulnerable community members. He also mentioned that local businesses have generally welcomed its usage, which is funded by the Knife Crime Concentration Fund. “The Live Facial Recognition Team have again supported City NPT not only in helping us locate wanted individuals but also in supporting our commitment to protecting vulnerable people. It has helped officers find a high-risk missing person quickly, ensuring they received the support and safeguarding they needed at the earliest possible opportunity. The technology also helps us identify those on orders who may cause harm, enabling officers to intervene, engage and take action to keep our communities safe. Local businesses and traders have broadly welcomed the use of LFR over the last six months, which is now supported by funding from the Knife Crime Concentration Fund,” said Adams.

West Yorkshire Police will also [6] implement Live Facial Recognition technology on the external perimeter of Leeds Festival for the first time. This technology compares live camera images to a watch list of individuals wanted by police or those who may pose a risk to public safety. Chief Inspector Dan Tillett [7] for West Yorkshire Police said, “Our priority is for everyone attending Leeds Festival to experience a safe and enjoyable event. Live Facial Recognition will form part of the wider safety operation at Bramham Park and will be used to help us prevent crime, safeguard the public and identify people who are wanted by police or who may present a risk to others. Whilst most people attending Leeds Festival are there to enjoy the event responsibly, we want to work in partnership to identify those who might seek to use the event as an opportunity to commit crime or cause harm. LFR provides us with an additional capability to identify those individuals quickly and effectively. Live Facial Recognition has already been used a number of times across West Yorkshire, including in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield city centres, as well as at major events. We are committed to using the technology responsibly, lawfully and transparently as a targeted policing tool to help make Leeds Festival as safe as possible for everyone attending."

However, Civil liberties organizations have urged [8] Nottinghamshire Police in the Midlands to abandon plans for the implementation of Live Facial Recognition technology. [9] In a collective letter, groups including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Big Brother Watch, Liberty, and Open Rights Group expressed concerns that LFR constitutes biometric mass surveillance and is significantly more invasive than merely being an additional tool for crime prevention. “The absence of national legislation has resulted in rights abuses, including breaches to privacy rights, data protection laws and equality laws. This legal vacuum has also left police forces vulnerable to lengthy, costly and high-profile litigation; where children are included on watch lists, the likelihood of legal challenge only increases. We urge you to halt Nottinghamshire Police’s plans to use live facial recognition surveillance any further, at least until Parliament has legislated and there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect the rights of the public,” said the campaigners.

They contend that the practice of scanning individuals in public areas inherently casts suspicion on all citizens, thereby jeopardizing fundamental rights such as the ability to protest, participate in union activities, and access healthcare services. The organizations criticized assurances that citizens should feel unconcerned, arguing that the technology may deter ordinary activities. Campaigners also highlighted the potential for disproportionate targeting, citing reports that LFR could be deployed against children as young as 11 under Operation View. They warned that this approach could exacerbate behavioural issues and erode the trust between youth and law enforcement. Additionally, polling data from Liberty indicated limited public backing for LFR, with 48 percent of respondents opposing its use in public spaces, and most individuals rejecting its implementation in educational institutions. Younger demographics in London, in particular, demonstrated strong opposition. In light of these concerns, the organizations have called on Nottinghamshire Police to cease any further use of live facial recognition surveillance.

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