This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

31

Mar

Last Updated: 31/03/2025
Politics
Politics

Mayor to investigate use of facial recognition technology to tackle crime

by John Plummer

| 31 Mar, 2025
Comment

0

screenshot-2025-03-31-at-11-55-41
David Skaith

Labour mayor David Skaith has pledged to explore the use of facial recognition technology in his Police and Crime Plan 2025-29.

The plan, which sets out the strategic direction of North Yorkshire Police over the next four years, was published today.

It identifies four priority areas: protection and early intervention; protect the public; work with partners; and build stronger communities.

For each of the priorities, the plan sets out a range of objectives that will assess how change is being delivered.

The section on ‘protect the public’ says the mayor will monitor “how CCTV / facial recognition technology can make policing more efficient and bring perpetrators to justice more quickly”.

The cameras, which scan people's faces and compare them with people on watch lists, has been hailed by some as a way to improve policing. But others have concerns about human rights and discrimination.

Conservative Keane Duncan pledged to trial facial recognition technology ahead of last year’s race to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, which Mr Skaith won with 35% of the vote. 

Mr Duncan, who was second with 27%, said at the time facial recognition technology would “revolutionise the way in which policing is conducted in North Yorkshire". But he declined to comment on Mr Skaith's plan today when approached by the Stray Ferret.

More than 1,600 people and organisations gave suggestions on policing priorities during consultation on the mayor's plan.

Mr Skaith said he had already committed to at least doubling prevention and early intervention commissioned services to help halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

He added: 

Everyone deserves to feel safe in our region and these plans put in place the process to ensure York and North Yorkshire is a safe place for all. 

You can view Mr Skaith's plan here.

StarTory mayoral candidate pledges to pilot facial recognition cameras in HarrogateStarCouncil leader responds to claims by anti-Harrogate Station Gateway group