What is LFR?

Facial Recognition technology uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify individuals in a digital image (such as a video or photo). This technology relies upon an algorithm which is trained to detect what a face is, and will then be trained to recognise faces and to distinguish one facial image from another.  It does so by measuring distinguishable features of an individual’s face. This creates a unique code, known as a ‘face print’ or ‘biometric template’ from a photo or video. Live Facial Recognition (LFR) uses this technology to assess real-time, live video footage of crowds who are passing a camera and automatically compares the images of those in the crowd against a database of people on a predetermined database of images, known as a watchlist. Appendix A provides further detail on how LFR is used in a policing context.

The Home Office stipulates that all uses of LFR by policing must be intelligence-led, targeted, time-bound and geographically limited. If there is an alert from the software to suggest a match, the decision to proceed, based on proportionality and necessity in the specific circumstances, will always be made by a police officer, using their professional judgement.  That officer is naturally accountable for their decision making and any course of action followed thereafter.