Live Facial Recognition technology continues removing harmful criminals from London communities

Live Facial Recognition technology is assisting officers removing violent and predatory offenders from communities in London.

The latest deployment on Tuesday (21 May) in Hounslow resulted in seven arrests including a registered sex offender breaching a sexual harm prevention order and three men wanted for common assault.

Another man arrested was wanted for breaching the terms of a non-molestation order and harassment.

When questioned by officers he also produced a fraudulent driving license and was further arrested for possession of false documentation.

There were six arrests made while the technology was live:

- A registered sex offender wanted for breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

- A man wanted for two counts of common assault and recall to prison for robbery.

- A man wanted for common assault.

- A man wanted for common assault and two racially aggravated public order offences.

- A man wanted for two counts of breaching a non-molestation order, harassment and possession of false documentation.

- A man wanted for going equipped to steal.

Before the technology was live officers working as part of the deployment also arrested a man wanted by Surrey Police for theft.

Lindsey Chiswick, Director of Intelligence for the Met and national lead for facial recognition, said: “Live Facial Recognition technology is making communities in London safer by helping officers identify violent and predatory offenders.

“The technology is alerting police to a person who they might want speak with and does not automatically mean a conversation or arrest, that is for officers at the deployment to decide. This is no different to policing which happens every day, but is just using the assistance of effective and accurate technology.

“For the overwhelming majority of people who are not on a bespoke wanted list, the biometric image generated by the technology will be evaluated and automatically deleted within a second."

More details about how the Met is using Live Facial Recognition technology in London can be found: https://www.met.police.uk/advi...