The Metropolitan Police is expanding the use of static live facial recognition cameras to central London's West End and Soho by the end of the year. The rollout follows a six-month pilot in Croydon between October 2025 and May 2026, during which more than 470,000 people passed the cameras, resulting in 173 arrests and one false alert. The remotely monitored devices attach to street furniture and are designed to assist officers in targeting wanted criminals and registered sex offenders. Force-wide figures show that live facial recognition technology has led to more than 2,000 arrests since the start of 2024, with additional deployment across London planned for next year. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that approximately 80 per cent of Londoners support the technology, emphasizing that it aids officers rather than replacing them.

Background: Facial Recognition in Policing

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