The Metropolitan Police are set to install the UK’s first permanent facial recognition cameras in Croydon, south London, a major development in the use of surveillance technology in British law enforcement. The fixed cameras will be mounted on lampposts and buildings throughout the town centre, scanning faces and matching them against a database of criminal suspects.
The news follows the Met’s successful deployment of mobile facial recognition units in 2023, which resulted in 540 arrests. The permanent installation represents a shift from the current approach of using mobile vans to a more embedded “business as usual” system.
The initiative comes amid ongoing national dialogue about the use of facial recognition technology. Chris Philp, Conservative MP for Croydon South, strongly supports the installation, citing the technology’s success in catching wanted criminals, including two alleged rapists in the past year.
However, privacy advocates have raised significant concerns. Rebecca Vincent from Big Brother Watch called the development “a worrying escalation” and urged for a halt to all facial recognition technology use until proper legislative safeguards are in place.
The Metropolitan Police defended their decision, pointing to their track record of over 500 arrests last year using the technology. They emphasized that rigorous checks and balances are in place to protect privacy rights, with images of individuals not on watch lists being automatically deleted.
This installation follows a broader trend of UK law enforcement agencies expanding their use of facial recognition technology. Essex Police recently moved forward with their own LFR plans following successful trials, suggesting a growing shift toward permanent surveillance infrastructure across the country.
Sources: The Times, Evening Standard
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March 24, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
