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 Saturday 11th July.

As Chester city centre prepares to welcome an increased numbers of visitors for Chester Races, the deployment will support officers in identifying individuals who are wanted by police, outstanding suspects, and 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, allowing them to take appropriate action where necessary.

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 are 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.

As well as the LFR deployment, a dispersal order will be in place from 12pm on Friday 10 July until 12pm on Sunday 12 July 2026. The dispersal order will allow officers to ban anyone from the area for up to 48 hours to prevent disorder. The area covered by the order is highlighted in the attached map. The map is provided to anyone issued with a direction to leave. 

Chief Inspector Darren Griffiths, the force lead for Facial Recognition, said: 

“This latest deployment will help ensure that visitors to Chester on Saturday, along with local residents and businesses, can go about their day safely.

“Live Facial Recognition is a valuable tool that helps us keep people safe, particularly during large-scale events such as Chester Races, when we expect increased footfall in the city centre.

“The technology also helps us ensure that everyone can enjoy all that Chester has to offer safely. Alongside officers on the ground, LFR gives us an additional capability to identify individuals who may pose a risk to others and allows us to take appropriate action where necessary.”

Inspector James Wilson said: 

“This weekend it will be incredibly busy in Chester, paired with the hot weather, and while we hope everyone enjoys their time here, we hope they do so safely and look out for each other.

“As well as an increased police presence, there will be a dispersal order in place which serves as an additional tactical option that allows us to directly combat anti-social behaviour head on, before it escalates.”

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.

Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour in their area is urged to contact Cheshire Police via the Cheshire Police website or call 101.