Stronger laws for police using facial recognition technology
What was announced
New laws to govern the use of groundbreaking technology and maximise public safety.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- Facial recognition technology that helps police catch thousands of dangerous criminals every year will be subject to tough new safeguards to ensure that the technology is used fairly and safely.
- An independent watchdog will be created to provide independent oversight of police use of current and future technologies – and could potentially stop forces from using them if they fail to comply.
- It will also be made clear that any technologies used by law enforcement must be rigorously and independently tested against bias or discrimination of age, gender or race.
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “The Met reported a 10.5% drop in overall crime in the area against the previous year, and a 21% decrease in offences linked to violence against women and girls.”
- “Today’s measures follow an £11 million investment to triple the number of live facial recognition vans available to police forces in England and Wales.”
Who and where
People
- Shabana Mahmood (MP for Birmingham Ladywood (Labour)) · more news
UK bodies of power
- Home Office (UK government department) · more news
Constituencies of the MPs named: Birmingham Ladywood.
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Policing.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stronger-laws-for-police-using-facial-recognition-technology
- Published 2026-11-04 15:51:04 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-11-04 16:15:15 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 8013, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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