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02
Apr
North Yorkshire Police to introduce live facial recognition cameras
North Yorkshire Police is to introduce controversial live facial recognition technology, it announced today (April 2).
More and more constabularies are using live facial recognition. However, the civil rights group Liberty opposes the technology.
It says parking police vans on busy shopping streets or train stations to scan thousands of people who come within range of cameras violates human rights and reinforces discrimination.
Essex Police paused the use of it last month after discovering it was more likely to identify black people than other ethnic groups.
In a statement today, North Yorkshire Police said it would deploy the technology in “carefully selected, intelligence-led locations” across York and North Yorkshire.
It said the cameras would identify people who pose a risk to the public, are wanted by the police or the courts, or are prohibited from entering certain areas due to court orders.
North Yorkshire Police said:
The technology works by comparing live camera footage to a watchlist made up of individuals who meet the criteria above. When the system identifies a potential match, officers are alerted and will immediately review the information, carry out further checks and determine whether action is required. Images that do not match the watchlist are deleted immediately and permanently. The watchlist itself is deleted at the conclusion of each deployment.
(L) Labour mayor David Skaith and Tory councillor Keane Duncan.
Cross-party support
Labour mayor David Skaith last year promised to explore the use of facial recognition technology in his Police and Crime Plan 2025-29, saying everyone “deserves to feel safe in our region”.
Conservative councillor Keane Duncan, who finished second in the race to become the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire in 2024, also pledged to trial facial recognition technology during his mayoral campaign.
He wanted to pilot the technology in York, Harrogate and Scarborough.
In today’s statement, North Yorkshire Police said a number of forces across the country are now using the technology to “successfully locate wanted individuals more efficiently, protect vulnerable people and deter crime through targeted deployments”.
It added:
In support of LFR the government has proposed significant investment in policing technology including funding for 40 new live facial recognition vans, £26 million for a national facial recognition system, and £11.6 million to support live facial recognition capability and coordination.
Although North Yorkshire Police has not previously used live facial recognition and is not currently investing in new live facial recognition capability, the force is taking proactive steps to ensure it is prepared to use regional assets and align with national guidance on its deployment.
Following that, deployments would only take place where there are a clear policing purpose and a strong intelligence case to do so.
The force’s temporary deputy chief constable, Ben Mosley, who is leading the roll-out of live facial recognition within North Yorkshire Police, said:
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.
The force will it will continue to follow national developments closely and will update the public as planning progresses.
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