London police arrest over 500 this year using facial recognition

Police on Friday said it arrested more than 500 suspects in London this year using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, Azernews reports, citing Philippine News Agency .

A total of 540 individuals wanted for criminal offenses ranging from shoplifting to rape have been arrested with the help of LRF tech, a Metropolitan Police statement said.

"Live Facial Recognition is an advanced technology employed by the Met in specific areas of London. Officers position a van equipped with cameras in a pre-agreed location," the statement said.

It said that of the 540 people arrested by Met officers, 406 have already been charged or cautioned.

"LFR technology enables the Met to take a more precise and intelligence-led approach to tackling crime."

The statement said that each deployment is “carefully planned based on operational needs" and is guided by data to ensure resources are directed at offenders who pose the greatest threat to public safety.

Lindsey Chiswick, director of Performance at the Metropolitan Police, said that this technology is helping the force to protect communities from harm.

"It is a powerful tool that supports officers to identify and focus on people who present the highest risk that may otherwise have gone undetected," she added.