Facial recognition cameras heading to London’s West End in bid to cut crime

London’s Metropolitan Police is set to significantly expand its use of static live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, with deployments planned for the West End and Soho by the end of the year.

This move follows a six-month pilot programme in Croydon, south London, which the force hailed as a success.

The trial, conducted between October 2025 and May 2026, led to 173 arrests, including that of a woman who had been wanted by authorities for more than two decades.

The static cameras, which are attached to street furniture and monitored remotely, are expected to be rolled out to further parts of the capital next year.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley championed the technology, stating: “Facial recognition is one of the most revolutionary technology advances in policing in recent years.”

He added that public confidence is high, with “around 80% of Londoners support its use. That backing reflects a simple truth: it works.”

Sir Mark highlighted the Croydon pilot’s impact, noting it delivered “over 170 arrests, a reduction in crime and a significant fall in violence against women and girls,” with only “one false alert among hundreds of thousands of people.”

He stressed that the technology “supports officers – not replacing them”, enabling them to target wanted criminals and registered sex offenders.

The Met aims to build on this success by introducing the capability to high-footfall areas in central London.

Sir Mark warned: “Criminals are not standing still. They are quick to exploit new technology to commit offences, evade detection and target victims at scale. Policing cannot afford to fall behind and this is another step towards tackling that.”

Since the beginning of 2024, the force has made more than 2,000 arrests using live facial recognition cameras.

Over in the US, Disney rolled out facial recognition cameras at its California parks earlier this year. The cameras were introduced in a bid to speed up entry and prevent fraud.

The images can be compared with pictures taken when a customer first used the ticket or annual pass. The system deletes the information within 30 days.

Disney stated at the time that participation is voluntary and that entrances without biometric scanning would remain available.