Counter Terror Business - Surveillance & Biometrics

Government plans to increase use of facial recognition and biometrics

Polly Jones — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:03:35 +0000

The Government has launched a consultation on how police forces should use facial recognition and biometrics.

Facial recognition can be used to locate wanted suspects in public places, find vulnerable missing people and identify offenders more quickly through footage obtained from CCTV and doorbell cameras.

Over the last two years, the Metropolitan Police have made 1,300 arrests using facial recognition including rapists, domestic abusers and violent criminals. The tech has also been used to identify more than 100 registered sex offenders breaching their license conditions.

The consultation will lay the foundation for new laws so all police forces can use facial recognition.

Police forces currently use three types of facial recognition technology: retrospective facial recognition is used as part of a criminal investigation to search images from crime scenes and live facial recognition uses live video footage of people passing cameras and compares their images to a specific list of people wanted by the police. Operator-initiated facial recognition is a mobile app that allows officers to check someone’s identity without having to arrest them and take them into custody.

The ten-week consultation will look at the benefits of facial recognition and ask what safeguards are needed to ensure users are confident in its use, and in similar technologies which are likely to follow. It will also investigate when and how the technologies should be used, how to protect people’s privacy, and whether using these technologies is proportionate to the level of harm being addressed.

There are also proposals to create a single body to oversee and regulate police use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, and seeks views on what responsibilities it should have.

Research from the �鶹�� Office shows that retrospective facial recognition is seen as most acceptable type of facial recognition by the public, with 97 per cent of people saying that it is at least sometimes acceptable for police to use it. Meanwhile, 88 per cent of people think it is at least sometimes acceptable for the police to use live facial recognition to locate suspects.

Last year, £12.6 million was spent on facial recognition by the �鶹�� Office, with £2.8 million spent on national live facial recognition capabilities, including mobile vans and fixed-location pilots.

The year, £6.6 million is being spent to support the adoption, evaluation, and responsible rollout of facial recognition technology, including £3.9 million for the development of a new, national facial matching service.

Crime and Policing Minister, Sarah Jones, said: "Facial recognition is the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching.

"It has already helped take thousands of dangerous criminals off our streets and has huge potential to strengthen how the police keep us safe.

"We will expand its use so that forces can put more criminals behind bars and tackle crime in their communities."

Lindsey Chiswick, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for facial recognition, said: "Live facial recognition helps police locate wanted offenders, including those missing for years, and monitor individuals subject to court imposed conditions, such as registered sex offenders. This technology makes officers more effective and delivers more arrests than would otherwise be possible. Live facial recognition is making a real difference in keeping communities safe.

"Live facial recognition is already subject to strong safeguards and rigorous oversight, and policing remains committed to using it proportionately and responsibly.

"Public trust is vital, and we want to build on that by listening to people’s views. This consultation is an opportunity for the public to help shape how live facial recognition continues to be deployed, what protections matter most, and how policing can continue to use it in a way that reinforces confidence."

New Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner appointed

Polly Jones — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:20:25 +0000

Professor William Webster has been appointed as the new Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

The role has been vacant since August 2024, and Francesca Whitelaw KC has been serving as Interim Biometrics Commissioner since 1 July 2025.

Professor Webster will begin the role on 1 November and be in position for two years.

In the role, Professor Webster will oversee the retention, use, and destruction of DNA samples, DNA profiles, and fingerprints by police forces in England and Wales and promote compliance with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

The appointment comes after an open competition and in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Professor Webster is currently Professor of Public Policy and Management at the University of Stirling, and director of the Centre for Research into Information Surveillance and Privacy (CRISP).

Professor Webster said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the next Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner. Developments in new technology, around for example biometrics and artificial technology, mean that this office will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding the rights of citizens whilst contributing to keeping the UK safe and secure.

"My focus will be to oversee police applications to retain biometric material and the evolution of, and adherence to, the �鶹�� Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

"I bring to the office over 25 years of academic experience researching the governance of surveillance, with specific expertise in the regulation and provision of surveillance cameras, surveillance ethics, oversight mechanisms and digital government.

"I look forward to working with stakeholders and the office in shaping the regulatory landscape around biometrics and surveillance cameras, and in fulfilling the significant statutory roles associated with this position."

Policing and crime minister, Sarah Jones said: "I welcome Professor Webster’s appointment to this vital role. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. I look forward to working with him to ensure our use of biometrics and surveillance continues to uphold public trust, safeguard privacy, and support effective policing."

LFR leading to arrests in London

Polly Jones — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:41:39 +0000

According to a new report published by the Metropolitan Police, use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology is making London safer.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, LFR deployments led to 962 arrests. More than a quarter of these were for individuals involved in violence against women and girls, including those suspected of rape, strangulation and domestic abuse.

The total of LFR arrests is now over 1400 and more than 1000 people have been charged or cautioned.

Those arrested include people who were wanted by police or the courts, as well as offenders who were in breach of court-imposed conditions, such as sex offenders or stalkers.

The false alert rate is 0.0003 per cent from more than three million faces scanned. Nobody has been arrested as a result of a false alert.

Lindsey Chiswick, the lead for LFR at the Met and nationally, said “We are proud of the results achieved with LFR. Our goal has always been to keep Londoners safe and improve the trust of our communities. Using this technology is helping us do exactly that.

“This is a powerful and game-changing tool, which is helping us to remove dangerous offenders from our streets and deliver justice for victims.

“We remain committed to being transparent and engaging with communities about our use of LFR, to demonstrate we are using it fairly and without bias.”

Police set to rollout AI to catch criminals

Meghan Shaw — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 09:56:35 +0000

The police are set to rollout AI to catch criminals by 2030, according to a new announcement today by technology secretary Peter Kyle.

Top scientists are developing a detailed real time and interaction crime map that spans across England and Wales to detect, track and predict where devastating knife crime is likely to occur, and spot early warning signs of anti-social behaviour before it escalates.

Advanced AI will bring together data shared between police, councils, and social services, including criminal records, previous incident locations and behavioural patterns of known offenders.

The Concentrations of Crime Data Challenge brings together teams from business, universities, and beyond to develop the solution to be operational across England and Wales by 2030, as part of the government’s £500 million R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.

As part of an initial £4 million government investment, teams will deliver the initial prototypes to develop the mapping system by April 2026, which will also support the Safer Street Mission, which aims to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls (VAWG) within a decade.

Peter Kyle, science and technology secretary, said: “Cutting-edge technology like AI can improve our lives in so many ways, including in keeping us safe, which is why we’re putting it to work for victims over vandals, the law-abiding majority over the lawbreakers.

“Our police officers are at their best when they join up to prevent crime rather than react to it, and R&D can deliver crucial tools for them to stay on step ahead of potential dangers to the public and property—keeping our streets safe and delivering on our Plan for Change.”

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, said: “We welcome the announcement of this challenge which will bring together experts and practitioners at the cutting edge of crime, data and technology, to create an operational mapping system which we hope will enable people to feel safer and more secure in their homes and local neighbourhood.

“The map will pool a wealth of valuable crime data and enable law enforcement to target their resources more effectively at a local level and help prevent further victims of crime. As an organisation that strive to build a society where neighbours are more connected, safer, and active in their communities, we welcome this laser focus on harnessing data and tech to prevent crime at the local level.”

Live Facial Recognition to combat VAWG

Meghan Shaw — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:13:17 +0000

The Metropolitan Police Service’s Live Facial Recognition (LFR) has arrested more than 1,000 wanted criminals, 100 of which involved in serious violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences, such as stalking and domestic abuse.

Of those arrested thanks to LFR, 773 have been charged or cautioned, evidence of LFR’s position impact on London’s safety and community.

LFR works by capturing live footage of people passing by and comparing their faces against a list of wanted offenders, generating an alert if there is a match. Met officers then conduct further checks, like reviewing court orders or other relevant information, to determine if the person is a suspect. This element is key, as an alert does not warrant an arrest without thorough evaluation by real officers.

The Met implement robust safeguarding by immediately deleting data on members of the public who are not wanted by the police.

Crucially, LFR interventions don’t always result in arrest, as the tool is often used to stop people who are flagged from the watchlist who have conditions imposed by the courts, meaning police can ensure they are adhering to their conditions.

In London, a breach of conditions has been identified 21 per cent of the time.

Lindsey Chiswick, lead for LFR at the Met and nationally, said: “This milestone of 1,000 arrest is a demonstration of how cutting-edge technology can make London safer by removing dangerous offenders from our streets.

“Live Facial Recognition is a powerful tool, which is helping us deliver justice for victims, including those who have been subjected to horrendous offences, such as rape and serious assault.

“It is not saving our officers’ valuable time but delivering faster, more accurate results to catch criminals—helping us be more efficient than ever before.”

Top-secret atomic clock to improve intelligence and surveillance

Meghan Shaw — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:46:42 +0000

A new high-tech atomic clock has been developed at the secret Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), which will allow military personnel to conduct more secure and precise operations. This will improve British intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities by decreasing the use of GPS technology which can be disrupted and blocked by adversaries.

The clock is so precise that it will lose less than one second over billions of years, giving scientists an unprecedented opportunity to measure time accurately. It is the first device of its kind to be built on British soil and will be rolled out during military operations over the next five years.

Quantum clocks aren’t just useful for precision timekeeping, but also have the potential to transform global navigation systems, assisting with everything from satellite communication to aircraft navigation.

Improved clocks will allow the Ministry of Defence to further support current and future capabilities. Quantum clocks have a range of applications, such as reducing reliance on GPS satellites which can be easily destroyed in conflict, ensure secure communication systems like encrypted military networks, as well as enhance the accuracy of advanced weapon systems, like guided missiles, as they depend accurate timing to calculate trajectories and attacks.

Minister for defence procurement and industry, Maria Eagle MP, said: “Integrating cutting edge technology into existing capabilities exemplifies the government’s commitment to innovation in the defence sector, and to ensuring our Armed Forces have the best kit possible to keep us secure at home and strong abroad.

“The trailing of this emerging, groundbreaking technology could not only strengthen our operational capability, but also drive progress in industry, bolster our science sector and support high-skilled jobs.”

Dstl’s chief executive, Paul Hollinshead, said: “This first trial of advanced atomic clock represents a significant achievement in the UK’s quantum technology capabilities.

“The data gathered will not only shape future Defence effort but is also a signal to industry and academia that we are serious about exploring quantum technologies for secure and resilient operational advantage.”

London's CCTV upgraded to boost security

Polly Jones — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:12:00 +0000

More than 300 new and upgraded CCTV cameras have been installed across the capital, thanks to funding from the Mayor of London.

The upgrades, are designed to improve security for homes, businesses and communities and have been fitted after £30 million of investment in full fibre coverage.

The funding is part of the Mayor's work to deliver new improved digital public services and make London safer for everyone.

The updates mean that clearer footage will be captured by CCTV cameras and be available to the Met Police, helping to identify, pursue and prosecute offenders.

The work has been delivered by the Mayor’s Connected London programme which improves full fibre connectivity across hard-to-reach areas in the capital. Other projects include the installation of new sensors to monitor air quality, better monitoring of traffic congestion, as well as supporting councils to enhance public safety by monitoring town centres and high streets.

Merton Council has used the money to upgrade their fibre to support the installation of 55 new cameras, and enabling the local authority to improve incident response times with partners, increase the reliability of their CCTV network, reduce running costs and help them allocate extra resources to other community safety initiatives.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As a thriving global city, it’s essential our capital’s digital infrastructure is kept fully updated so I’m pleased that an investment of £30million from City Hall is ramping up full fibre connectivity across London. New and upgraded CCTV cameras will produce sharper images that will help local authorities, TfL and crucially for the Met police improve safety for everyone after dark and present stronger evidence in criminal trials. I’m committed to working with the police, partners and businesses to improve security in our transport networks, high streets, and town centres to create a safer London for everyone.”

Commander Owain Richards from the Metropolitan Police said: “We welcome these improvements which will give our officers the tools they need to crackdown on crime and bring perpetrators to justice. The Met will continue to work with the Mayor and partners so we can improve CCTV across the capital and ultimately make London a safer place.”

Shashi Verma, chief technology officer at TfL, said: “It’s great that our work with Boldyn Networks to utilise our network to provide new fibre connectivity across London is already delivering tangible benefits for Londoners. We’re committed to working with boroughs to improve connectivity across the city, which will support growth opportunities and help deliver better use of digital technology for all.”

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner report reaches Parliament

Meghan Shaw — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:13:52 +0000

The annual report of the biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner for 2023-24 has been laid in Parliament today, which set out the observations of the commissioner in relation to his responsibilities for overseeing police use of DNA and fingerprints in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as encouraging the proper use of public space surveillance cameras.

The report, covering April 2023 to March 2024, was produced by the then biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner Tony Eastaugh, who stepped down in August. Mr Easthaugh took over from Professor Fraser Simpson who resigned in October 2023, and so the report covers the tenure of both commissioners.

The report reached the home secretary Yvette Cooper on 10th October 2024, and discusses a range of matters:

There has been a decline in the number of National Security Determinations (NSDs) made by officers in the period surveyed, which recognises how vital a tool NSDs are, as they permit the lawful retention of individuals believed to present a real risk to national security.

There has been increase in the use of Section 63G powers, which allow police to keep DNA and fingerprints for 3 years for those who have been arrested, but not convicted, of qualifying offences. Concerns still persist that this power is underused by many forces, however.

The report also details reflection and comments on some of the most notable achievements of the office and the most recent incumbents of the roles.

The full report can be accessed here.

Biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner resigns

Robyn Quick — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:06:32 +0000

The biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner has resigned.

Tony Eastaugh will step down from the post in mid-August.

He was appointed to the role in a time-limited capacity to help deliver the closure of the office on commencement of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.

His office has now announced: "We await news from the �鶹�� Office regarding the appointment of a new commissioner and will provide an update in due course."

Live Facial Recognition in Hounslow leads to arrests

Polly Jones — Fri, 24 May 2024 08:59:38 +0000

The deployment of Live Facial Recognition in Hounslow has resulted in seven arrests.

Those arrested include a registered sex offender who had breached a sexual harm prevention order and another man was arrested for breaching the terms of a non-molestation order and harassment.

A man was arrested for two counts of common assault and recall to prison for robbery, another was arrested for common assault and another who was wanted for going equipped to steal.

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."