Police roll out Live Facial Recognition across Merseyside to protect communities

Merseyside Police will begin using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology as part of its commitment to keeping communities safe and bringing offenders to justice.

The first deployment will take place in Liverpool City Centre on Monday 15 December, supported by LFR vans supplied to Greater Manchester Police by the Home Office.  

LFR works by comparing faces captured on a live camera feed against a predetermined, secure watchlist of individuals wanted for serious offences, subject to court orders, or who pose a risk to the public or to themselves.

When the system identifies a possible match, a police officer will compare the image on screen with the person in view and decide whether to speak to them. This decision will always be made by an officer, not the technology.

If you are not on a watchlist we will never store your biometric data from passing through the LFR zone of recognition. It is immediately and automatically deleted, ensuring privacy is protected.

Watchlist images are deleted within 24 hours after each day of deployment and CCTV footage is deleted within 31 days, the same as standard public cameras.

Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Wilson, Matrix and Force Operations said: “Live Facial Recognition is a vital tool that will help us quickly identify and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to our communities.”

“We’re committed to using the best technology to keep people safe, prevent crime, and protect the most vulnerable. LFR allows us to locate high-harm offenders swiftly and effectively.”

“LFR is a great example of our officers using technology to work smarter, strengthening the way we deliver Neighbourhood Policing across Merseyside.”

“We welcome members of the public to visit the highly visible vans when they’re in operation, see how the technology works, and speak with officers about the safeguards in place.”

Independent oversight and regular reviews will ensure the technology is used responsibly and proportionately. All deployments will be targeted, intelligence-led and within a refined geographical area.

ACC Wilson added: “We recognise that facial recognition technology raises important questions about privacy, and we are committed to addressing those concerns openly and responsibly.”

“This is not mass surveillance. Anyone not included on a watchlist cannot be identified. This technology is focused solely on preventing and detecting crime and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.”

“Before this technology is deployed in the community, strict checks are in place to ensure its use is both necessary and proportionate.

“LFR has already proven successful in other police forces, and we’re building on their experience to ensure it delivers the same positive results here in Merseyside.”

Merseyside Police will continue to engage with local communities to explain how LFR works, why it is being used, and what safeguards are in place.

LFR has been successfully used by the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police since 2017 and is being trialled at several forces including Merseyside, GMP, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex and Bedfordshire. 

All LFR deployments will be clearly signposted, and details of deployment locations will be published on our website ahead of time here.

The introduction of LFR coincides with Merseyside Police’s Winter of Action operation, running throughout the festive season and into the New Year. This proactive campaign targets crime, reassures communities, and ensures high streets remain safe and welcoming for all.

For further information about Live Facial Recognition (LFR), visit: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/police-forces/merseyside-police/areas/au/about-us/facial-recognition-technology

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Live Facial Recognition (LFR) legal?

Yes. All deployments comply with UK law, including the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR and the Human Rights Act. We also follow the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

How will I know if a LFR deployment is in operation?

Clear signage is displayed at deployment sites, and we publish details on our website and social media. This ensures the public is informed and can ask questions. LFR is a highly visible policing tactic, and the public are encouraged to engage with officers during an operation.

What is the ‘watchlist’ that is used during a Live Facial Recognition (LFR) deployment?

The secure watchlist contains the details of people who are wanted for crimes, subject to court orders or pose a risk to the public or to themselves. Unless you are on the watchlist you cannot be matched.

Any alerts are verified by an operator prior to an intervention by officers on the ground. The system will only seek to match those individuals placed on the watchlist. Each watch list is unique to that event where the technology is being deployed.

What if the system makes a mistake?

Every possible match is reviewed by a trained police officer before any action is taken.

We never rely on technology alone. Human checks are always part of the process.

The facial recognition algorithm used in the vans has been independently tested for bias by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The testing found that the algorithm is accurate and there is no bias for ethnicity, age or gender at the settings used by the police.

The full results are presented in the NPL’s commissioned report: ‘Facial Recognition Technology in Law Enforcement Equitability Study’

Does facial recognition work on face coverings?

Yes, Live Facial Recognition (LFR) can still work when someone is wearing a face covering, although accuracy may be reduced. Facial recognition systems typically analyse features such as the nose, mouth and jawline. When these areas are covered by masks or other coverings, the system relies more heavily on visible features like the eyes and upper facial regions. Modern algorithms are designed to adapt to these conditions.

Importantly, every alert is checked by a trained operator before any action is taken, and the system only attempts to match individuals who are on the secure watchlist.

How is my privacy protected, and will you keep any of my data on file?

The use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) by Merseyside Police is designed to be responsible, proportionate, and fair. It aims to keep the public safe, identify serious offenders and protect the vulnerable.

If you are not on a watchlist we will never store your biometric data from passing through the LFR zone of recognition. It is immediately and automatically deleted.

Watchlist images and alerts are deleted within 24 hours after each day of deployment and CCTV footage is deleted within 31 days, the same as standard public cameras.

Can individuals opt-out of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) surveillance?

Individuals are not required to pass through an LFR zone; doing so is entirely voluntary. However, inclusion on a watchlist is not optional, it is a policing decision which is supported by appropriate justification.

If you wish to physically avoid a deployment this is not grounds on its own for us to have any interaction with you.

We will publish the dates and locations of a deployment in advance, except in very exceptional circumstances.