Live Facial Recognition Technology

Live Facial Recognition Technology (LFR) compares a live camera feed, via a closed network, of faces against a predetermined watchlist of persons of interest for specific crime types in real time.

In collaboration with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Avon and Somerset Police are introducing the use of LFR technology as part of its commitment to preventing crime, protecting vulnerable people and enhancing public safety.

Avon and Somerset Police will initially be supported by South Wales Police, a force with established experience of using this operationally. This will provide an opportunity to learn and understand the practical considerations involved in delivering LFR deployments, whilst also developing our own capabilities.

What is LFR?

LFR is an overt policing tool that compares facial images captured by live CCTV cameras, on a closed network, against a pre-authorised watchlist of people.

An overt policing tool refers to general police activity that is carried out openly. Further information can be found on Covert and overt policing – His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

We recognise that LFR raises important questions about privacy, fairness and civil liberties. We are committed to being open and transparent about our use of the technology, engaging with communities and stakeholders, and publishing information about the safeguards that govern its use.

How it works

LFR will briefly process the facial image of every person who passes through the Zone of Recognition. This includes people under the age of 18, as the technology cannot selectively exclude individuals from the initial comparison process.

The system analyses key facial features and creates a numerical biometric template which is briefly compared against templates created from images on an authorised watchlist. If there is no match, the biometric template is automatically deleted and is not retained.

If a match is found

If the system identifies a possible match, it generates an alert which is reviewed by a trained police officer. LFR does not make decisions about individuals and cannot direct officers to take action.

First, the officer must decide if the alert appears to be a genuine match. If so, the officer will then consider if, and what type of, engagement is appropriate, based on the reason the person is on the watchlist. For example, they may be:

wanted by the courts
missing and at risk
subject to a court order
assessed as posing a risk of serious harm

Any decision to engage with a person is made by police officers using professional judgement and existing legal powers.

If a match is not found

If the system does not identify a match, all biometric data is automatically and permanently deleted. This process takes less than a second and no image, biometric template or personal data is retained.

Passing through the Zone of Recognition

You are not required to pass through a Zone of Recognition. Where practicable, deployments are designed so that people can choose an alternative route.

Covering your face or avoiding an LFR camera is not, in itself, grounds for police intervention. However, officers will continue to assess behaviour and circumstances on their individual merits, using their existing legal powers and professional judgement, just as they would if LFR were not in use.

Watchlists

Watchlists are created specifically for each deployment and must be justified, necessary and proportionate.

Individuals may only be included where they fall into specific categories, such as people who are:

wanted by the courts
suspected of having committed an offence
subject to bail conditions or court orders
missing persons assessed as at increased risk
assessed as posing an immediate risk to life or serious harm
where there is credible evidence or intelligence indicating they are planning or preparing to commit an offence

All watchlist images must be lawfully held by the police and of sufficient quality to enable accurate comparison by the system.

Images are transferred to the LFR system using an encrypted storage device containing the approved deployment watchlist. This ensures that only authorised images are used by the system.

Children and young people

Children and young people, under the age of 18, are only ever included on watchlists in very limited circumstances where there is a clear policing purpose, and the use of LFR is lawful, necessary and proportionate.

Examples may include:

locating a high-risk missing child
preventing an immediate risk of serious harm to a child or others
locating a person under the age of 18 who is wanted in connection with a serious offence

There are additional safeguards when children are involved, including:

senior officer authorisation
enhanced safeguarding and welfare considerations
legal and technical advice where required
consideration of less intrusive alternatives

Avon and Somerset Police does not use LFR routinely to identify children, and the technology is never used for general monitoring of young people.

Knowing when it is in use

Any deployments will always be clearly signposted at the location itself by:

clear signage outside the Zone of Recognition
marked police vehicles or clearly identifiable equipment
officers available to speak with the public

Where operationally appropriate, deployments will be communicated in advance via our website and social media channels.

In rare cases, advance publication may not be possible if it would undermine the policing purpose, such as when someone wanted for a serious crime is expected to attend a location. However, any deployment in these situations will still be clearly signposted at the location on the day.

Protests or sensitive locations

LFR may be considered in limited circumstances where there is a specific and justified policing need, such as preventing serious violence or harm.

Any such deployment requires:

careful consideration of Articles 10 and 11 rights
enhanced safeguards and justification
senior officer authorisation

LFR is not deployed routinely at protests, places of worship, schools, hospitals or similar sensitive locations.

Why we are using it

LFR can be a valuable policing tool to help keep communities safe and support core policing duties, including:

locating individuals wanted by the courts
reducing the risk of serious harm
safeguarding vulnerable people, including high-risk missing persons
supporting public safety at events or locations where there is intelligence of risk

Modern policing faces challenges such as large crowds, major events and people travelling across force boundaries. LFR supports an existing policing tactic by helping officers identify people on pre-authorised watchlists more efficiently and effectively than relying solely on officers to observe crowds.

LFR is used as a complementary tactic, not a replacement for traditional policing.

Example of existing police use

LFR is already used by a number of police forces across England and Wales, including South Wales Police, Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police.

Police forces have used the technology to help locate people who are wanted by the courts, wanted in connection with serious offences, missing and at risk, or subject to restrictions designed to protect the public.

Published examples include identifying and arresting people wanted for offences such as rape, robbery, grievous bodily harm and domestic abuse-related offences, as well as locating high-risk missing children and vulnerable people.

As of November 2025, 13 police forces in England and Wales were using or had used LFR technology.

Further information, case studies and examples of operational outcomes are available in the GOV.UK Police use of facial recognition: factsheet.

Further guidance

Legality of LFR

Avon and Somerset Police uses LFR in line with existing police powers and complies with all College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice guidance and relevant legislation, including:

Data Protection Act 2018
Human Rights Act 1998
Equality Act 2010
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

The approach also reflects legal principles set out in court judgments, including R (Bridges) v Chief Constable of South Wales Police.

Every deployment of LFR requires senior officer authorisation and must be assessed as lawful, necessary and proportionate.

Protecting your privacy

Protecting privacy is central to how LFR is used by Avon and Somerset Police.

If you are not on the watchlist, biometric data created from your image is automatically deleted. This process takes less than a second.
If a possible match alert is generated, related images and biometric data are retained for no more than 24 hours, and are usually deleted at the end of the deployment.
Watchlists are specific to each deployment and are deleted within 24 hours.
CCTV footage from LFR deployments is deleted within 31 days unless it is lawfully required for purposes such as an investigation or complaint.
Biometric data from LFR is not shared with third parties.

Accuracy and fairness of the technology

Facial recognition technology has developed significantly over time. Independent testing by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) found no statistically significant differences in performance by race or gender when the technology is used at recommended thresholds.

We apply a number of safeguards and mitigations, including:

human review of every alert, with no automated decision-making
ongoing monitoring of outcomes and false alerts
senior oversight and post-deployment review of LFR use

The technology is designed to support officers’ decision-making, not replace professional judgement.

However, we recognise that the use of facial recognition technology has raised questions nationally, particularly around accuracy, fairness and the potential for bias. Avon and Somerset Police is committed to using LFR responsibly and ethically, and to being transparent about how the technology is governed and monitored.

We are committed to ongoing oversight and openness to scrutiny to ensure the technology continues to be used fairly and proportionately, with the sole aim of helping keep communities safe.

Automation and AI usage

LFR uses an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, trained using machine learning and computer vision techniques, to compare facial features and identify possible matches against a pre-authorised watchlist.

However, the technology does not make decisions about individuals. If a possible match is identified, it generates an alert which is reviewed by trained police personnel. Humans review every alert and decide what action, if any, is appropriate.

Unlike generative AI or large language models (LLMs), the facial recognition algorithm does not learn or change during deployments. It is a fixed, pre-tested algorithm used to support police decision-making, not replace it.

Future advancements and expected uses

Facial recognition technology continues to develop, particularly in improving accuracy, fairness and transparency.

Any future use or development of LFR by Avon and Somerset Police would be subject to updated legal, data protection and equality assessments, senior authorisation and clear public communication.

Technology will only be used where it is lawful, necessary and proportionate.

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns about the use of LFR, you can contact Avon and Somerset Police through our feedback channels.

Information about how your data is used and your rights under data protection law is available through our Data Protection and Privacy page.