Over 1,000 arrests made by Met Police using live facial recognition technology

The Metropolitan Police in London have made over 1,000 arrests since last year by utilizing live facial recognition (LFR) cameras. This technology identifies individuals by comparing their faces to a database of wanted offenders. Among the arrests are criminals involved in serious offences, such as sexual assault, robbery, and violence against women and girls. One notable arrest was of 73-year-old David Cheneler, who was caught with a six-year-old girl and later convicted for breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The technology has also led to the capture of individuals involved in violent robberies and other crimes. The Met Police highlighted the efficiency of LFR in quickly identifying suspects and aiding in justice. However, human rights group Liberty has raised concerns about privacy and the lack of proper laws governing the use of this technology. They have called for stronger safeguards to protect citizens’ rights, citing the scanning of nearly two million faces without clear regulations. The debate continues about balancing safety and privacy as facial recognition technology becomes more widely used by law enforcement.