Live facial recognition to be used by Essex police in Harlow this weekend
It follows its successful implementation in Clacton and Southend.
Last updated 6th Sep 2024
Following the successful use of the new live facial recognition technology in Clacton and Southend, it will be deployed for a third time on Saturday - this time in Harlow.
The technology is used to find people wanted for serious offences, to help enforce orders against those whose faces are put on a ‘watch list’, and to protect those who are vulnerable and at risk of harm.
If your face is not on the watch list, the technology deletes your image in a fraction of a second - it's not retained in any way and is not stored on any database.
The Harlow deployment is an extension to the Clear, Hold, Build project, which aims to eradicate criminal activity and regenerate key areas of the town.
It is a Home Office-backed scheme which brings together public services to tackle offending and address underlying issues affecting the local community.
The technology was last used at Clacton air show two weeks ago.
Chief Inspector Paul Austin, Harlow district commander, said: “This is the third use of this innovative technology.
"In the first two deployments, in Clacton and Southend, we made five arrests, resulting from ten positive alerts.
“This tech is used to help us locate people who we want to speak to as part of serious ongoing investigations or to manage people who have had court orders or conditions imposed upon them as a result of committing offences.
“I want to be clear – criminals who have committed serious offences cannot walk around freely in our community and this technology allows us to keep our communities safe and ultimately locate people who we believe to have committed serious crimes.”