North Yorkshire Police has announced plans to introduce Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology across York and North Yorkshire to help tackle serious crime and protect vulnerable people.
The force said the technology would be used in carefully selected, intelligence-led locations to identify individuals who may pose a risk to the public, are wanted by police or the courts, or are subject to restrictions on entering certain areas.
LFR works by comparing live camera footage against a watchlist of individuals who meet specific criteria. If a potential match is detected, officers are alerted and carry out further checks before deciding whether any action is required. Images that do not match are deleted immediately, while watchlists are removed after each deployment.
Police said the technology is already being used by a number of forces across the country to locate wanted individuals more quickly and deter crime.
The move comes as the Government proposes increased investment in policing technology, including funding for new LFR vans and a national facial recognition system.
Although North Yorkshire Police has not previously used LFR and is not currently investing in its own equipment, the force said it is preparing to use regional resources and align with national guidance.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Ben Moseley, who is leading the rollout, said the technology could help officers respond more effectively.
“Policing is evolving rapidly, and emerging technologies such as Live Facial Recognition offer enhanced opportunities to prevent harm, safeguard communities and identify high-risk offenders more swiftly,” he said.
The force said any future deployments would only take place where there is a clear policing purpose and strong intelligence case.
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