Kent Police Consider Facial Recognition Technology

Kent police may use facial recognition technology to find missing and vulnerable people.

11:01 30 August 2019

The Home Office has recently approached Kent police over a potential trial that involves the use of CCTV cameras to scan the faces of members of the public. The data will then be matched against a database of photographs with the goal to find missing and vulnerable people.

 

 

 

The proposals are currently being discussed by both parties. Kent police says public consultations would be held before any decision regarding the trial will be made.

 

 

 

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "There are currently no plans to use ‘live’ facial recognition software at Kent Police however discussions around the use of facial recognition technology retrospectively, to assist in missing person investigations, has been discussed with the Home Office.

 

 

 

"At Kent Police legitimacy is at the heart of everything we do and before the start of any such trial, and in line with best practice, we would engage in public consultation."