Facial recognition trial fails

Facial recognition trial in London stations costs £320,000 and yields zero arrests

Facial recognition trial in London stations cost over £320,000 and took up almost 100 hours of police officers' time, according to a Freedom of Information document obtained by Liberty Investigates and The Guardian. The trial saw over half a million faces scanned between February and July, with one alert on a watchlist being incorrect identification. However, there have been three positive alerts of people who have been confirmed to be complying with sexual harm prevention orders or other court conditions since the extension. Fraser Sampson, non-executive director of Facewatch, said that using the technology in supermarkets to deter shoplifters and prevent attacks on staff is different from using it on public transport networks.

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