Police in the UK have conducted facial recognition searches using more than 150 million images from passport and immigration databases without public announcement or parliamentary scrutiny, according to a report released this week by privacy group Big Brother Watch (BBW).
The findings are based on Freedom of Information requests submitted to 31 police forces across the UK, and show a sharp rise in the use of civil image databases for retrospective facial recognition. According to BBW, police searches of the UK passport database increased from two in 2020 to 417 in 2023. Searches of immigration and visa databases rose from 16 in 2023 to 102 in 2024.
The UK passport database contains approximately 58 million images of citizens, while immigration and visa systems collectively hold another 92 million images – bringing the total to over 150 million. By comparison, the Police National Database (PND), the law enforcement system designated for retrospective facial recognition, holds an estimated 20 million images.
Former Conservative minister Sir David Davis MP called the system “an extraordinary surveillance system,” adding that “parliamentarians and the public have been kept in the dark.” Nuno Guerreiro de Sousa, a senior technologist at Privacy International, said the practice “bypasses public and parliamentary scrutiny” and undermines the principle of policing by consent.
The Home Office has previously stated that the use of facial recognition by law enforcement is legal and helps identify individuals involved in serious crimes. It also maintains that such usage is “time-bound.” However, advocacy groups note that the recent installation of two permanent live facial recognition (LFR) cameras in Croydon, South London, appears to contradict those assurances.
The disclosure comes as the UK expands its facial recognition infrastructure. The Metropolitan Police recently announced plans to deploy LFR technology at the 2025 Notting Hill Carnival, the first such deployment at the event since early trials. Separately, the government has launched a £20 million multi-supplier framework for facial recognition software procurement through BlueLight Commercial.
BBW and Privacy International have called for an immediate moratorium on facial recognition searches using civil databases and are considering legal action. The organizations argue that current practices amount to an “historic breach” of privacy rights and lack adequate legal safeguards. Pre-action letters have reportedly been sent to government officials.
Police forces have stated that these searches involve manual, case-by-case image comparisons, rather than continuous monitoring or mass surveillance. However, advocacy groups continue to warn that the scale and secrecy of such use marks a significant departure from established norms around consent and transparency.
Sources: The Register, Privacy International
–
By Cass Kennedy
