Conservatives call for greater use of facial recognition from police
The UK Conservative Party is calling for mandatory use of facial recognition technology by police to investigate crimes and track stolen goods. The proposal is part of a broader 'Take Back Our Streets' plan that includes hiring 10,000 additional police officers.
Why it matters
This reflects an ongoing debate about the balance between public safety, the use of AI surveillance, and civil liberties.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A facial recognition system on a Metropolitan Police van at Oxford Circus in London
The Conservatives have called for the greater use of facial recognition technology to investigate crimes.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp wants to make it a requirement for officers to run images of suspects through facial recognition software, where they have been captured on CCTV, mobile phones or camera doorbells.
He also wants officers to follow up when geo-tagged items - including phones, laptops, tablets, bikes and cars - are pinging their location at a suspect's address, as well as tackling stolen goods being sold in plain sight.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government was investing heavily in facial recognition technology.
"This government is already turning the tide on crime," they added.
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