|
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
Live Facial Recognition Technology comes to Sussex |
||
13th November 2025
Live Facial Recognition technology (LFR) is now being deployed in Sussex.
It follows a successful bid by both Surrey Police and Sussex Police to obtain two LFR vans from the Home Office and after extensive planning, these are now live and were successfully deployed for the first time in Crawley and Redhill on Thursday 13 November.
Live facial recognition technology is a real-time deployment comparing a live camera feed (or multiple feeds) of faces against a pre-determined watchlist. This will include wanted people like sex offenders and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Images of people who are not on the pre-determined watchlist will be instantly deleted forever from the system, thereby reducing impact on their human rights. Watchlist images are deleted within 24 hours after each day of the deployment.
Historically we know that there have been issues with facial recognition technology and a potential gender and ethnic bias. However, as the technology has developed this has greatly reduced and the national algorithm, we will be using shows no statistical bias (as tested nationally). However, we have also committed to briefing officers before each deployment regarding the potential disparity to colour, age and gender, and will ensure there is extra corroboration before any action or engagement is taken.
For the people of interest who are flagged by the software as being on the watchlist, an officer will confirm the match before a decision is made about whether there are grounds for appropriate engagement or arrest.
In line with statutory requirements, the vans will be clearly signposted when deployed and deployment locations will be publicised on our website in advance. Deployments will also only be authorised by those of a superintendent rank and in a proportionate manner.
Watch our video which explains more about LFR:
Detective Chief Superintendent Carwyn Hughes, Business Lead for live facial recognition for Surrey Police and Sussex Police, said: “The introduction of the live facial recognition vans, which are already being used successfully by other forces in the UK, is a vital tool to help us to catch criminals, protect communities and deliver an outstanding service.
We appreciate that some people may have concerns about the technology, but I would like to reassure that it has been extensively tested by the National Physical Laboratory and has already been successfully used by police forces across the country over the last few years.
We have been meticulously planning the rollout of the vans to ensure our use is appropriate, proportionate and that we are operating with transparency. We will only be deploying to specific locations based on crime data, hotspots and potentially as part of a wider operation.
It is our responsibility to use every tactic and innovation available to us to keep the public safe, deter criminality, protect people from harm and locate the most serious of offenders - and the live facial recognition vans will help us to do exactly that.”
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne commented: “As Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, my priority is to ensure everyone feels safe, protected and confident in the policing they receive.
The introduction of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans marks a bold step forward in smart, targeted policing.
We’re using cutting-edge, intelligence-led technology to locate offenders causing the most harm like sex offenders, domestic abusers and prolific shoplifters.
These vans give criminals nowhere to hide.
LFR technology has already helped catch hundreds of dangerous individuals in other parts of the country and now it’s Sussex’s turn.
This isn’t about surveillance – it’s about safeguarding.
Every match is verified by a police officer and, if you’re not on the watchlist, your image is deleted instantly.
This is human-led policing, governed by strict legal safeguards and designed to protect - not profile - our communities.
We’re not just catching criminals; we’re preventing crime before it happens.
This is about reassurance, transparency and trust and using all the tools at our disposal to keep Sussex safe, while upholding the public’s rights to privacy.”
The vans will be available to be used by other forces for mutual aid and will be funded by the Home Office for five years.
Kind regards
Kelly | ||
Reply to this message | ||
|
|
