Suffolk Police Use Live Facial Recognition for Public Safety

Suffolk Police are planning to once again utilize live facial recognition cameras in three towns, aiming to improve community safety. This advanced technology works by comparing the faces of individuals in public spaces against a dedicated police watch list. Images of anyone not found on this list are reportedly deleted immediately.

During a recent deployment in August, the force made four arrests and scanned approximately 80,000 faces across Ipswich, Lowestoft, and Bury St Edmunds. The upcoming use of the cameras is scheduled for Lowestoft on November 3, Bury St Edmunds on November 4, and Ipswich on November 5. These deployments will utilize a camera van on loan from Bedfordshire Police.

Suffolk's police and crime commissioner, Tim Passmore, expressed strong support for the technology, noting its significant potential to apprehend criminals and deter illegal activities. Officers have reported positive engagement with the public during previous trials, with many individuals seeking to understand the technology's function and benefits.