Live facial recognition (LFR) has emerged as a “transformative tool,” resulting in over 700 arrests this year, according to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
Among those apprehended, 50 were registered sex offenders violating their restrictions, Sir Mark reported.
He elaborated on the ways the police force is leveraging technology to combat crime, including plans to deploy drones alongside officers to enhance public safety.
During an address to TechUK, the commissioner described LFR as a “strategic” investment that bolsters on-the-ground policing efforts.
In his remarks, Sir Mark highlighted his experience over the Notting Hill Carnival weekend, where he joined officers involved in an LFR initiative. “Every officer I interacted with was invigorated by the possibilities it offers,” he stated.
Throughout the weekend, LFR facilitated 61 arrests—16 of which were for serious violent crimes and 13 related to violence against women and girls.
The first apprehension took place just five minutes after the system activated, capturing an individual wanted for prison recall since 2015. Another suspect had been sought for grievous bodily harm, allegedly inflicting five stab wounds on a victim with a machete.
These outcomes illustrate LFR’s essential role in maintaining public safety during the Carnival, contributing to it being one of the safest in years, with reported robberies down by 70%, violence reduced by 53%, and sexual offenses decreased by 8% compared to 2024.
The decision to utilize LFR at the Carnival raised concerns about potential racial bias, leading 11 anti-racist and civil liberties organizations to urge Sir Mark to reconsider the deployment.
In a letter addressed to the commissioner, these groups referred to the technology as a “mass surveillance tool” that presumes all festival attendees are suspects and argued it has “no place at one of London’s largest cultural events.” They also highlighted that LFR technology may exhibit “lower accuracy for women and individuals of color” in specific contexts.
Sir Mark acknowledged the concerns regarding biases in facial recognition, explaining that the police force carefully selected its algorithm and is aware of how to implement it in a fair manner.
He noted that LFR is revolutionizing “hotspot policing,” enabling officers to apprehend significantly more offenders.
Later this year, London residents will be informed about the police force’s plans to “pilot the use of drones alongside officers to enhance public safety.”
Sir Mark remarked, “Drones can assist in various scenarios, from searching for missing individuals to responding swiftly to major traffic incidents, as well as serving as a quieter alternative to helicopters during large public gatherings.”
“When executed properly, drones will become an additional resource that helps officers make quicker, more informed choices in the field.”
