For the first time since limited trials in 2016 and 2017, the Metropolitan Police will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) technology at the Notting Hill Carnival during the 2025 August Bank Holiday weekend. The cameras will be placed at entry and exit points surrounding the event, which typically attracts up to two million attendees, making it Europe’s largest street festival.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the cameras will be located on approaches to and from the Carnival but will not be used within the event perimeter. The LFR system is designed to help officers identify individuals on a specific watchlist, including persons wanted by police, missing individuals, and those subject to sexual harm prevention orders. The Met has emphasized that this deployment will focus particularly on enhancing the safety of women and girls.
Technology Use and Public Oversight
So far in 2025, the Met has conducted 111 LFR deployments resulting in 512 arrests. The system works by comparing live video feeds with a curated watchlist. If a match is detected, it triggers an alert for officer review. The Metropolitan Police stress that no action is taken automatically; officers must verify each alert before intervening. For privacy protection, biometric data of individuals not on the watchlist is “immediately and permanently deleted.”
This decision comes amid growing national debate over the use of facial recognition technology by police. While the UK government considers formal legislation on biometric surveillance, civil liberties organizations continue to raise concerns about transparency and proportionality. The Biometrics Institute has called for standardized protocols for the public use of facial recognition, citing inconsistent oversight across jurisdictions.
Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders
The announcement has generated mixed responses. Rory Geoghegan, founder of the Public Safety Foundation, described the plan as “common sense” and a sensible use of police technology. In contrast, civil liberties group Big Brother Watch called the decision “invasive” and “sinister,” criticizing the rollout of biometric surveillance at a cultural celebration.
Across the UK, similar trials such as those in Ipswich town centre have underscored the importance of public communication and transparency when deploying facial recognition technology in public spaces.
Sources: Metropolitan Police, Big Brother Watch, Public Safety Foundation
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By Cass Kennedy
