The use of facial recognition software in a North London borough earlier this year helped police arrest seven criminal suspects, including ‘a series of sexual predators’, according to the local authority. The police claim the initiative was so successful they ‘ran out of officers’ due to the number of arrests made.
Back in January, police officers deployed the technology in a ‘specific high footfall area’ in Brent. It was the third time it had been used in the borough as a way of preventing and reducing crime, as well as finding wanted criminals and keeping the public safe.
When people passed through that area their images were streamed directly to the live facial recognition system and compared to a watchlist of people relevant to police investigations. During the 90 minutes the technology was deployed, officers made seven arrests including suspects wanted for sex offences and other crimes – particularly focusing on those against women and girls.
Borough Detective Superintendent, Will Lexton-Jones, said: “The facial recognition initiative was highly effective. We ran out of police officers due to the number of arrests. In 90 minutes, we made seven arrests, most of which were of sexual offenders.”
The facial recognition works by measuring and ‘mapping’ a person’s unique facial features, which are then converted into a numerical code and matched against the codes of faces on police watch lists. It usually involves using cameras mounted on top of police vehicles stationed in crowded areas. The cameras scan the faces of everyone in range and the software then instantly compares them to the database.
Violence Against Women Lead Officer Champal Grewal said: “Tackling violence against women remains a top priority for the police. Police officers conduct undercover operations at various venues to monitor activities. We also provide training on safety, crime reporting, and understanding coercive control at women’s gyms. Additionally, we educate night-time venues on what constitutes harassment and unacceptable behaviour.”
Crime rates have ‘decreased significantly’ over the past year, according to Brent Council, with burglary down by 18%, motor vehicle crime down by 12%, and homicide down by 16%. Despite the figures moving in the right direction, the council says that ‘more work needs to be done’.
Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Harbi Farah, said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women and girls in all its forms and as a community must tackle these issues head-on.”
However, the technology is controversial. Liberty – also called the National Council for Civil Liberties – which is an advocacy group based in the UK whose mission statement is to challenge unjust laws, protect civil liberties, and promote human rights, has called it a ‘gross violation’ of human rights and believe it is ‘unlawful’.
Their website states: “The ‘maps’ that facial recognition makes of your face is unique to you. Much like a fingerprint, it is identifiable biometric data. With ‘live’ police facial recognition, cameras scan everyone in sight, so this data is likely being snatched from you without your knowledge or consent. And this is certainly the case with ‘retroactive’ police use.”
