Met Police to Deploy Live Facial Recognition Tech in Romford in Crime Crackdown
The Metropolitan Police Service is rolling out live facial recognition technology in Romford town centre on Thursday, 14 February. This marks the final stage of their 10-deployment trial aimed at slashing crime, with a sharp focus on violent offenders.
Final Push in Live Facial Recognition Trial
The Met has already conducted nine live scans across London and this last deployment will run for around six hours. Officers will be highly visible in uniform, handing out info leaflets and putting up informative posters to keep the public in the loop.
Only faces of people wanted by the Met and courts will be searched against, giving police a sharper tool to identify and arrest suspects. Those who refuse to be scanned won’t automatically be suspicious — but officers will stay alert for any dodgy behaviour.
Proven Results So Far: Five Arrests Made
Detective Chief Superintendent Ivan Balhatchet, the Met’s live facial recognition lead, said: “So far, five arrests have been made directly thanks to this technology — two in Westminster last December and three recently in Romford. Tackling violent crime is a top priority and we’re determined to use every tool to protect our communities.”
The deployment was pushed back from 1 February due to bad weather. Following this final run, an independent evaluation of the technology and its impact will begin.
Transparency and Public Engagement
The Met insists it’s keeping things transparent by openly sharing info and inviting critiques from groups both for and against the tech. Balhatchet added: “We continue to engage with various stakeholders, including those who challenge our use of facial recognition. It’s important to have an honest, constructive debate.”
Live facial recognition could revolutionise everyday policing — but the Met’s trial results and public views will shape whether it stays.
