Met police to expand live facial recognition into central London by Christmas

The Metropolitan police plans to significantly expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology across London. By Christmas, the system will be operational in the central West End, with further deployment planned for six more areas throughout the coming year. This expansion marks a substantial increase in the surveillance capabilities available to law enforcement in the capital.

The new LFR cameras will be fixed installations, potentially mounted on street furniture like lamp-posts. This widespread deployment has drawn sharp criticism from privacy advocates and civil liberties groups. They contend that the technology's reach will effectively force tens of thousands of individuals into what they describe as a "digital police lineup."

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The Metropolitan police is to expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology, first into London’s West End by Christmas and then into a further six areas next year.

Critics argue that the pervasive use of LFR technology raises serious concerns about mass surveillance and the potential for misidentification. The expansion signifies a move towards more automated and widespread biometric tracking in public spaces, prompting debate about the balance between security and individual privacy in urban environments.

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Critics said the new plans mean tens of thousands of people will be forced into a “digital police lineup”.