Facial recognition cameras heading to London’s West End in bid to cut crime
London’s Metropolitan Police is set to significantly expand the use of static live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, with deployments planned in the West End and Soho by the end of the year.
The move follows a six-month pilot program in Croydon, south London, which police praised as a success.
During the trial, which took place between October 2025 and May 2026, 173 people were arrested, including a woman who had been wanted by authorities for more than two decades.
Static cameras attached to street furniture and monitored remotely are expected to be rolled out to other parts of the capital next year.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley supported the technology, stating: “Facial recognition is one of the most revolutionary technological developments in policing in recent years.”
He added that public confidence was high, with “around 80% of Londoners supporting its use”. “This support reflects a simple truth: it works.”
Sir Mark highlighted the impact of the Croydon pilot, saying it had resulted in “more than 170 arrests, a reduction in crime and a significant drop in violence against women and girls” and “just one false alarm among hundreds of thousands of people”.
He emphasized that the technology “supports officers, not replaces them,” allowing them to target wanted criminals and registered sex offenders.
The Met aims to build on this success by introducing this feature to areas with high pedestrian traffic in central London.
Sir Mark warned: “Criminals are not sitting still. They are quick to exploit new technology to commit crimes, evade detection and target victims at scale. The police force cannot afford to be left behind and this is another step towards tackling this.”
Since the beginning of 2024, police have made more than 2,000 arrests using live facial recognition cameras.
In the US, Disney rolled out facial recognition cameras at parks in California earlier this year. The cameras were installed to speed up entry and prevent fraud.
The images can be compared to images taken when the customer first used the ticket or annual pass. The system deletes the information within 30 days.
Disney had stated that participation was voluntary and entrances would continue without biometric scanning.
