United Kingdom, Essex
Essex Police
Retrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search)
OperationalFOI disclosurePAI-6631E83C
- Body
- Essex Police
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- Essex
- Technology
- Retrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search)
- Supplier
- Not stated in the source
- Programme
- Police National Database
- Status
- Operational
In routine use by the named body, on the evidence of a public source. - Stage
- In use now
- Since
- Not known
- Legal basis
- Not stated in the source
- Oversight
- Not stated in the source
- Evidence
- FOI disclosure
Freedom of information response - Source
- Essex Police FOI disclosure, PND facial recognition searches in 2024 (figures as at 30 January 2025)
- Last checked
- Record code
PAI-6631E83C
Notes
Essex Police's published Freedom of Information response on Police National Database facial recognition searches in 2024 says the PND 'utilises retrospective facial recognition technology' and gives monthly figures for the force's searches between May and December 2024, correct as at 30 January 2025 (May 282, June 139, July 233, August 257, September 248, October 311, November 263, December 445), which total 2,178. It says accurate monthly data for January to April 2024 is not available because process changes caused inconsistencies, so no full-year total exists. The response states that 'All searches are for Criminal suspects through this recorded medium.' An earlier Essex response dated 3 February 2022 said the force had access to the PND, 'which contains Facial Recognition technology', and that only images held within the PND are subject to it. The force's live facial recognition use is recorded separately.
Other systems used by Essex Police
| Deployment | Country | Supplier | Since | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex PoliceLive Facial Recognition | United KingdomForce area | Corsight AI (Apollo 4), with Digital Barriers | 2024 | Operational | |
| Essex PoliceKnife Crime and Violence Model (Fearless Futures) | United KingdomEssex | — | — | Trial |
Other bodies in Police National Database
All records in this programme| Deployment | Country | Supplier | Since | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire ConstabularyRetrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search) | United KingdomCheshire | — | 2024 | Operational | |
| Cumbria ConstabularyRetrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search) | United KingdomCumbria | — | — | Operational | |
| Avon and Somerset PoliceRetrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search) | United KingdomAvon and Somerset | — | — | Operational |
Retrospective facial recognition (Police National Database search) elsewhere in United Kingdom
See them in the tracker| Deployment | Country | Supplier | Since | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home OfficeRetrospective Facial Recognition (PND search) | United Kingdom | Cognitec (FaceVACS-DBScan ID), among others | 2014 | Operational |