Bedfordshire Police may soon join the growing number of UK forces deploying live facial recognition (LFR) technology, potentially rolling it out on local streets as early as July of this year. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Tizard discussed the plan during a Police and Crime Panel meeting earlier this month, noting that while the force is ready, it is still awaiting final approvals from the Home Office.
The initiative is linked to the county’s Safer Streets Summer Initiative, which focuses on reducing crimes like shop theft and street assaults during the busy summer months. According to Tizard, officers have already been trained and vehicles equipped for LFR operations, preparing the force for a possible launch once regulatory sign-off is secured.
The proposed use of facial recognition in Bedfordshire mirrors trends seen across the country, where several police forces have adopted or expanded biometric surveillance. Earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police became the first UK force to install permanent facial recognition cameras, starting in Croydon. Data from 2024 showed that the Met scanned approximately 4.7 million faces, more than doubling its previous annual figures.
While police argue that LFR can help identify individuals wanted for serious crimes or linked to criminal activity, the technology remains controversial. The UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s 2023-2024 annual report highlighted gaps in the legal framework, warning of “potential regulatory and policy deficiencies” surrounding LFR deployments.
Currently, police forces rely on common-law policing powers, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice to justify LFR use. There is no standalone statute specifically regulating live facial recognition. In a parliamentary session this month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged both the effectiveness of the technology in policing and the need for clearer legal guidance. “The Minister for Policing has been meeting with police forces and other organisations to develop a new framework that gives police forces confidence in using facial recognition appropriately,” she told MPs.
Bedfordshire Police has publicly stated that its draft LFR policy would include safeguards similar to those used nationally, such as restricting watchlists to individuals suspected of serious crimes, deleting images immediately if no match occurs, and publishing Equality Impact Assessments in advance of deployments. These measures aim to balance security objectives with privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Whether Bedfordshire’s pilot moves ahead this summer may depend on how swiftly government policymakers finalize guidance. As debates continue, the county’s plans are part of a larger question facing UK policing: how to integrate new technologies without undermining public trust.
Sources: Bedford Today, Bedford Independent, Hansard
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
