Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology was launched in the Thames Valley for the first time last week, making its debut in Oxford city centre

The force is adding two fully-equipped LFR vans to its capabilities, which will assist officers in tackling crime and keeping communities safe. The vans were stationed on Cornmarket Street on Monday 22 December, as part of a national rollout of the technology to target outstanding suspects and reduce crime.

Following this first deployment, the technology will be used across the Thames Valley frequently to support policing, enabling officers to locate people of interest in ongoing investigations quickly and efficiently.

Officers will create a bespoke ‘watchlist’ before each deployment, adding images of people they would like to speak to with links to the area, including those wanted on warrants and those evading court proceedings. If an individual is not on the watch list, then their face cannot be matched.

The technology can scan crowds to identify suspects, people of interest and people reported missing at a speed and level of accuracy that cannot be achieved by a person.

Every van is operated by specially trained officers who will double check and verify the information each time a person in the area matches with an image, which will trigger an alert. Officers on the ground may then choose to engage with that person, and where necessary may take action. This may include arrest in some cases, or safeguarding in others, such as in the case of missing people. This process ensures that there will always be a human making the decision around what intervention, if any, will be taken.

Any biometric templates that do not trigger an alert are automatically deleted within seconds, meaning that no personal data is stored.

The vans will be clearly marked and officers will be on hand to answer any questions and highlight how the technology helps us to locate and arrest people of interest.

Police forces across the country have already seen success with their own live facial recognition deployments, with hundreds of arrests for offences including rape, domestic abuse, knife crime, robbery and of sex offenders for breaching their conditions.

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “The launch of live facial recognition technology in Thames Valley provides officers with an additional tool to cut crime and catch criminals. 

“We have seen the successful use of this technology in other police force areas across the country, and I look forward to seeing the impact the rollout has in improving safety within our communities. 

“Whilst the use of this technology is widely welcomed by most people, there are understandable concerns by some. I have worked closely with the police to ensure that all the necessary safeguards are put in place to protect privacy and the only people who should have anything to fear from the use of live facial recognition are criminals seeking to target people and property in our community. 

“It is important that the police explain the use of this tactic and ensure widespread consent from the public. The use of any technology just provides a tool to the police. It is still the men and women of Thames Valley Police who will use their professional judgment and put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.”

For more information about our use of live facial recognition visit, which does include frequently asked questions –  https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/au/live-facial-recognition-technology/