Cheshire Constabulary to deploy Live Facial Recognition technology in Chester city centre

Cheshire Constabulary will be deploying Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology in Chester city centre on Thursday 5 March, marking the first use of the LFR van in the county.

The deployment aims to support the ongoing work of officers in identifying individuals who are wanted by police, outstanding suspects, or those who pose a risk of harm to the public. LFR allows officers to be alerted in real-time if a person on a specific, pre approved watchlist passes through the area being scanned.

During the deployment, officers will be available to speak with members of the public, local businesses, and community groups to explain the technology, listen to concerns, and offer reassurance about the safeguards in place.

Strict privacy, data protection and human rights safeguards will be in place for every LFR deployment. Only images of individuals on a pre approved watchlist are used by the system, and any biometric data of passers-by who do not match a person on that list is automatically and immediately deleted. Officers reviewing any potential matches must also confirm the identity before any action is taken.

Cheshire Police will be clearly signposting the use of the technology throughout the city centre, including visible signs around the area and information shared online.

Officers will be available throughout the day to answer questions from residents, business owners and visitors.

Chief Inspector Darren Griffiths, who is overseeing the deployment, said:

“Keeping people safe is at the heart of everything we do, and LFR is another tool that can help us locate people who may pose a risk to the public. This first deployment in Cheshire will allow us to understand how the technology works in our local context and how it can support our officers to keep people in Chester safe.

“We know that people understandably have questions about how LFR works, so we will be on hand throughout the day to explain the process, what the technology does and importantly what it doesn’t do. It does not store images of the general public, it does not track people, and it is not used for mass surveillance. The system only alerts officers to individuals who are already wanted for specific offences.

“This first deployment is not simply about our technology, it’s about engaging with the public, improving safety, and being transparent about the tools we use to protect our communities.”

Members of the public can find more information about Live Facial Recognition on the Constabulary’s website, including details on how the technology works and the safeguards that govern its use.