Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley has told civil liberties and anti-racism groups only criminals have something to fear from the deployment of live facial recognition at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Liberty, Big Brother Watch and the Runnymede Trust were among 11 organisations to describe LFR as “mass surveillance” that “treats all Carnival-goers as potential suspects” in a letter to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner on August 14.
But in his response on Tuesday, Sir Mark highlighted there were 349 arrests for homicide, rape, possession of weapons, violence and sexual offences at last year’s event.
He writes: “Where we know LFR can help locate individuals that pose a safety risk to the many seeking to enjoy Carnival, it is entirely reasonable to ask - why wouldn't we use it?”
Sir Mark said in 2024 the technology was used to take 1,190 dangerous offenders off the streets, which resulted in more than 890 charges or cautions.
Among these, were more than 100 individuals allegedly involved in serious violence against women and girls. Offences included strangulation, stalking, domestic abuse and rape.
The Met says LFR is governed by data protection and equality laws as well as being supported by polling across every borough.
The High Court and the Court of Appeal recognised the existing legal basis for the police to use LFR technology, Sir Mark said, and robust safeguards are implemented in its use.
For example, if a member of the public walks past a camera and is not wanted by the police, their biometrics are immediately and permanently deleted.
At Europe’s biggest street party over August Bank Holiday weekend, officers will use LFR to identify suspects and compare faces against a database of known offenders.
But the groups have expressed their disappointment at the decision, warning that it may be “less accurate for women and people of colour.”
In their letter to Sir Mark, they state: “There is no clear legal basis for your force’s use of LFR.
“No law mentions facial recognition technology and Parliament has never considered or scrutinised its use.
“Notting Hill Carnival is an event that specifically celebrates the British African Caribbean community, yet the [Metropolitan Police] is choosing to use a technology with a well-documented history of inaccurate outcomes and racial bias.”
