Met’s High-Tech Crackdown in Croydon Nets Eight Arrests
For the second time in just five days, the Met Police unleashed live facial recognition technology in Croydon – and it paid off big time with eight arrests.
Targeting Crime with Cutting-Edge Tech
On Tuesday, 23 January, officers cracked down on crime hotspots after listening to local concerns about serious violence, theft, and criminal damage. Using live facial recognition tech, the Met sharpened their focus on known offenders causing the most trouble.
The results speak for themselves. Eight suspects were hauled in for offenses including theft, drug-related crimes, and breach of court orders:
- 25-year-old woman caught for failing to appear in court over theft
- 26-year-old man wanted for missing court on theft from motor vehicle charges
- 39-year-old man wanted for drug offences
- 32-year-old man wanted for theft-related court failure
- 21-year-old man recalled to prison for burglary
- 23-year-old man arrested for breaching tag conditions
Police Speak Out on Facial Recognition Success
Lindsey Chiswick, head of live facial recognition at the Met, said: “We’re committed to delivering better policing by listening to communities. This technology helps us identify serious offenders quickly and accurately. Importantly, if there’s no match, images are deleted instantly to protect privacy. Facial recognition allows us to take criminals off the streets more efficiently.”
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, Croydon’s policing chief, added: “Residents concerned about crime can see we’re pulling out all the stops. In just two deployments, we’ve made 13 arrests using this tech. Our officers are working hard to keep the public informed about how these tools help keep Croydon safe.”
How It Works
Before patrols, the police upload images of wanted individuals into a database. Then, the facial recognition system scans passers-by in real-time, flagging anyone on the watchlist for swift action.
The Met’s bold tech push is changing the game in crime fighting – with Croydon seeing the results first-hand.
