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The first deployment of live facial recognition technology by the British Transport Police took place on London Bridge train station yesterday as it began its six-month trial in the capital.
This is the first use of the technology by BTP which is carrying out a six month pilot, joining the growing number of police forces that have adopted a biometric approach to identifying criminals in known crime hotspots across England.
Using a watchlist of wanted criminals and missing persons, the force is able to scan thousands of faces in London Bridge train station and where a match is identified, officers review it and carry out further checks and take action where required. Scanned images of anyone not on the authorised database are deleted immediately.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, BTP’s senior officer overseeing the project, said: “The project team have spent a significant amount of time working closely with partners including Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group toget us to this stage.”
He reiterated that the technology is being trialled to assess how it performs in railway setting. Other police forces have deployed vans with cameras fixed to the roof to scan locations like busy shopping street. Or, more recently, using a fixed camera on street lamps in Croydon where the Met Police has just completed a short pilot to test out this alternative way of using the technology.
“The initiative follows a significant amount of research and planning, and forms part of BTP’s commitment to using innovative technology to make the railways a hostile place for individuals wanted for serious criminal offences, helping us keep the public safe,” he explained.
Forces using live facial recognition technology in public spaces are required to put up posters in the vicinity to alert that it is being used. BTP is encouraging the public to scan the QR codes on the posters to share their thoughts on the deployment. Further deployments on the transport network will be notified in advance on BTP’s website.
Read about other recent LFR deployments – Live facial recognition technology now in the Thames Valley.
