Police deployed Live Facial Recognition (LFR) cameras in the city over the weekend, using high tech equipment to try to identify known criminals and suspects who had failed to attend court.
Their details had been entered into the system as part of a pre-determined watchlist.
In the event, however, just one person was spotted, although officers taking part did make a second arrest using more old-school methods, when a member of the public approached them to say a man had been seen taking pictures up a woman’s skirt in a shop. A man in his 70s was arrested.
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology was used in Norwich for the first time over the weekend (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
The LFR technology was operated from special vans from Bedfordshire Constabulary which were parked on Gentleman’s Walk on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 50,000 faces were scanned with just two positive matches.
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology was used in Norwich for the first time over the weekend (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
One man was identified as being wanted for failing to appear in court.
When he was stopped by police he was also found to be in possession of cannabis.
The man was rebailed for his court warrant and issued with a community resolution for possession of the drugs.
A second man was identified as being the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
He was spoken to by officers who established he was not in breach of any conditions, so no further action was taken.
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology was used in Norwich for the first time over the weekend (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
The LFR system alerts police to any faces which match someone on the watchlist.
All other faces scanned by the system which do not provide a match are deleted immediately and permanently.
Inspector Toby Gosden said: “We spoke to hundreds of people during the deployment, explaining how the tech works and how it was helping to keep Norwich safe.
“This was our first time using the vans and we received a really positive response. It was a great opportunity to engage with the public and local businesses whilst showing them exactly what this technology can do.”
Inspector Toby Gosden (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
There has been criticism from civil liberty campaigners who have called for the police to abandon its plans of the “intrusive technology more suited to authoritarian regimes”.
Jasleen Chaggar, from Big Brother Watch – an organisation which campaigns against surveillance and censorship – said: “Norwich residents should not be subjected to invasive biometric face scans.”
Jasleen Chaggar (Image: Jasleen Chaggar)
She called on Norfolk Constabulary to abandon its plans to use the technology, insisting: “The alarmingly broad categories of people who can be added to a police watchlist, including those linked to non-crimes and even victims of crime, are open to abuse.”
But Insp Godsen insisted the technology was “about identifying those people who are wanted by the police”.
He added: “If you’ve got nothing to hide it’s no problem.”
Insp Gosden said the zone where the technology was being used was clearly signposted with officers on hand to answer any questions the public might have.
A sign warning people the technology was being used (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)
He said use of the technology was advertised five days in advance on the force website.
The cameras will be used for a second time in Norwich on Saturday, March 28.
