Scottish public asked to submit their views on police use of live facial recognition

Members of the public in Scotland are being asked to submit their views and opinions on the use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology by police.

Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Biometric Commissioner are seeking the input as part of an ongoing public conversation, highlighting that the move does not constitute a consultation.

Announcing the opening of the conversation on 10 April, Police Scotland said it ‘will decide on the basis of responses whether to commit more resources to exploring LFR in detail and then fully consulting on specific detail in the future.’

Police Scotland has laid out three potential scenarios where LFR could be used:

1. City/town centre nightlife – Use of LFR, during specific times, in busy areas where there is thought to be people who target females with a risk of sexual or violent altercations.
2. High risk missing persons – Use of LFR for example at transport hubs (e.g. bus stations) or where it is thought to help Police Scotland’s ability to keep vulnerable or missing people safe and supported and return them to safety.
3. Largescale indoor events – Use of LFR at indoor events where lots of people are expected. This is to find people who are likely to create a risk to public safety, potential acts of terrorism, or who should not be in attendance (e.g. breaching a condition of bail).

Interested parties can submit their views about the use of LFR in Scotland via this online survey until 4 May 2025.

Last year, in England, MPs debated whether new laws were needed for the use of LFR by police. Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said it was necessary to achieve a balance of privacy and safety using legislation.

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