Home / Crime and Justice / Met Police Gets £3.42M for Football Facial Recognition Trials
Met Police Gets £3.42M for Football Facial Recognition Trials
15 Aug
Summary
- Metropolitan Police received £3.42 million for facial recognition trials.
- Funding from Premier League aims to identify and prevent serious offenders.
- Facial recognition deployments will be intelligence-led and publicly signposted.
The Metropolitan Police is set to conduct trials of live facial recognition technology at Premier League matches in London, backed by £3.42 million in funding from the league. This initiative is part of the Premier League's broader £10 million investment in policing and technology, announced in December last year. The funds, distributed via Cheshire Constabulary, are specifically allocated for testing this technology on matchdays to identify individuals wanted for offenses or subject to football banning orders.
Deployments of the facial recognition system will be determined on a match-by-match basis, guided by operational intelligence and requiring authorization from a superintendent rank officer. The use of the technology will be assessed as lawful and proportionate for each event. Supporters entering areas with active facial recognition will be informed by visible signage. Images of individuals not matching watchlist entries will be deleted immediately, adhering to the Met's existing policies for watchlist compilation.
Relevant Premier League clubs and the Football Supporters' Association have been consulted on the program's progression. The Met Police is permitted to accept this funding under Section 93 of the Police Act 1996, which allows for such commercial sponsorships in connection with their functions. The aim is to enhance public safety and share best practices nationwide.
