The Conservative candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire has pledged to introduce controversial facial recognition cameras to catch criminals.
The cameras, which scan people’s faces in public 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.
Keane Duncan said he wanted to test the technology across the county, if elected.
The mayor will take on powers from North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, which will be scrapped.
Mr Duncan said trials elsewhere in the country had found the cameras can cut the time required to identify criminals and missing people from days and months to “just minutes”.
He added that he wanted to pilot the technology in York, Harrogate and Scarborough.
Mr Duncan said:
“I want to embrace new technology to revolutionise the way in which policing is conducted in North Yorkshire.
“From apprehending dangerous criminals to locating vulnerable people, live facial recognition cameras represent an effective tool in the arsenal of our police.
“With potential to free up valuable manpower so officers can have a greater presence on our streets, I want the cameras to be tested here in North Yorkshire.”
The cameras are used by the Metropolitan Police in London.
According to the force, the technology was used to help arrest 10 people for offences including threats to kill, recall to prison for robbery, and possession of an offensive weapon in Croydon on December 14, 2023.
The technology uses a CCTV feed from a police van linked to facial-recognition software.
The police upload photos of wanted criminals and the software creates an alert when a biometric match is found. The match is then reviewed by a police officer to confirm its accuracy.
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An election for the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is expected to be held in May this year.
The Labour Party has selected York businessman David Skaith as its candidate for the role.
Pateley Bridge businessman Keith Tordoff has announced he will stand as an independent candidate for mayor.
North Yorkshire councillor, Kevin Foster, will contest the election for the Green Party.
