Facial recognition trial cost £320,000, scanned half a million faces
British Transport Police extend live facial recognition technology trial to London Underground stations after six-month pilot.
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Reporting is corroborated by a freedom of information document and quotes from named individuals and bodies.
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Both articles clearly separate fact from comment and provide specific details about the trial's cost and duration.
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Headlines suggest a complete failure, while the article details associated arrests not directly linked to LFR alerts.
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A six-month trial of live facial recognition (LFR) technology in London's railway stations concluded with a single incorrect identification and no arrests directly linked to the system's alerts. The British Transport Police (BTP) initiative, which ran from February to July, cost £320,786 and involved scanning more than half a million faces across busy transport hubs.
The trial aimed to identify offenders and individuals breaching court orders. During the 18 deployments, equipment hire and police staffing amounted to £320,786. The technology generated only one alert on a suspect watchlist, which was later identified as a false positive, according to a freedom of information document obtained by Liberty Investigates and shared with The Guardian.
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Trial Extension and Expansion
Despite the outcome of the initial trial, BTP has announced an extension of the programme for a further four months. Deployments will now include stations on the London Underground. Transport for London stated that the LFR technology will target individuals on police watchlists at key stations, with a focus on tackling violence against women and girls.
A BTP spokesperson confirmed that officers made a number of associated arrests during the trial period for offences including assault, theft, possession of an offensive weapon, breach of a criminal behaviour order, and public order offences. These arrests, along with locating individuals wanted by courts and other police forces, were not directly a result of LFR alerts and therefore were not included in the official performance data.
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Concerns Over Privacy and Effectiveness
Fraser Sampson, a non-executive director at Facewatch, a company operating facial recognition systems in retail environments, commented on the difference between using the technology in shops versus public transport. He noted that success in a shop means no problematic individuals entering, whereas police success means catching people. Sampson added that the effectiveness relies heavily on the police watchlists, as individuals not on these lists are not tracked or retained in the same manner as standard CCTV footage.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, expressed concerns about the technology's impact on privacy. She stated that live facial recognition technologies represent a significant invasion of privacy and called for a suspension of their rollout until stronger safeguards and a proper legal framework are established. A recent report from parliament's joint committee on human rights identified the expansion of live facial recognition technology as a "particularly clear example of risk."
The BTP spokesperson also indicated that the force has been refining its deployment of the capability within the railway environment throughout the pilot, adjusting locations, operating procedures, equipment, and watchlist construction. They emphasised that watchlist growth has been deliberate, controlled, and aligned with BTP policy, beginning with a more limited list while ensuring data quality, governance, and safeguarding arrangements were robust.
Questions this report answers
+How much did the six-month live facial recognition trial cost?
The six-month trial of live facial recognition technology in London's railway stations cost £320,786. This figure covers equipment hire and police staffing for the 18 deployments conducted during the pilot phase.
+How many faces were scanned during the trial?
More than half a million faces were scanned between February and July this year. The technology was deployed in some of the capital's busiest transport hubs as part of the British Transport Police trial.
+What were the results of the trial?
The trial resulted in one false match against a watchlist of suspects. While associated arrests were made for various offences, none were directly from LFR alerts, meaning the technology did not directly lead to an arrest during the initial six-month period.
+Will the live facial recognition trial continue?
Yes, British Transport Police are extending the trial for a further four months. The technology's deployment is also being expanded to include stations on the London Underground network.
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