Merseyside Police deploy live facial recognition in Liverpool City Centre for the first time

Merseyside Police deployed Live Facial Recognition (LFR) for the first time in Liverpool City Centre yesterday (Monday 15 December).

Officers were on hand throughout the operation on Church Street to engage with the public, answer questions and explain how the technology works.

During the deployment, one alert was generated. Follow-up enquiries were undertaken by officers and no arrests were made. No false alerts were recorded.

No biometric data or images of faces scanned were retained by Merseyside Police.

Chief Inspector Nathaniel Stockley, who oversaw the Liverpool deployment, said:

“We’re committed to using the best technology to keep people safe, prevent crime, and protect the most vulnerable.

“The LFR vehicles and our officers were highly visible during the deployment and many members of the public told us they felt reassured by our presence in the city centre.

“We’ve spoken to many people who wanted to learn more and see the technology in action. We’ve been able to explain how it works and reassure them that decisions are always made by police officers – never by the technology itself.

“We encourage anyone with questions to speak to us during future deployments.”

LFR compares faces captured on a live camera feed against a predetermined, secure watchlist of individuals wanted for serious offences, subject to court orders, or who pose a risk to the public or themselves.

When the system identifies a possible match, a police officer reviews the image and decides whether to engage with the individual. This decision is always made by an officer, not the technology.

If you are not on a watchlist, your biometric data is never stored from passing through the LFR zone of recognition. It is immediately and automatically deleted to protect privacy.

Watchlist images are deleted within 24 hours after each deployment and CCTV footage is deleted within 31 days, the same as standard public cameras.

The deployment of LFR coincides with Merseyside Police’s Winter of Action operation, running throughout the festive season and into the New Year. This proactive campaign targets crime, reassures communities, and ensures high streets remain safe and welcoming for all.

Find out more on the Merseyside Police website.

Find out more about Merseyside Police’s major operation in Knowsley here.

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