Operation Vigilant deployment helps protect vulnerable people and prevent crime in Chester

Cheshire Police have completed a second Live Facial Recognition (LFR) deployment as part of Operation Vigilant, helping to protect vulnerable people, prevent crime and provide reassurance to communities in Chester.

The operation took place in Chester city centre on Saturday 25th July and was supported by neighbourhood officers, the Sexual Offender Management Unit (SOMU), Project Servator officers and specialist LFR teams from Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

The deployment also marked a significant milestone, with Cheshire Police becoming the first in the UK to use images shared by neighbouring police forces during a Live Facial Recognition operation, further strengthening efforts to identify wanted individuals and protect the public.

Throughout the deployment, officers took action to safeguard vulnerable people, tackle criminality and address concerning behaviour in the city centre.

Officers arrested two women following a report of an assault and intervened in a number of incidents involving unwanted behaviour towards women and girls. This included identifying and speaking to a man who was acting suspiciously, allowing officers to intervene at an early stage.

In a separate incident, officers engaged with a man following reports about his behaviour around groups of women. A registered sex offender was also stopped and ordered to leave the area under dispersal powers, while officers safeguarded a vulnerable woman and successfully located a missing child.

Throughout the day, officers engaged with members of the public to discuss LFR technology, how it supports policing activity and the measures in place to ensure it is deployed appropriately. Visitors were also able to see the technology in action and speak directly with officers about how it works.

Detective Chief Inspector Robert Pritchard said: 

"Operation Vigilant is about keeping people safe, and this deployment saw officers safeguard vulnerable people, locate a missing child and intervene early when concerns were identified.

"Live Facial Recognition is another tool that helps us protect the public. Used alongside neighbourhood policing, it supports our ability to identify wanted individuals and those who may pose a risk, prevent harm and respond proactively when issues arise.

"The public rightly expect us to take proactive action to keep people safe, and this deployment demonstrates how technology and visible policing can work together to achieve that. We remain committed to using Live Facial Recognition responsibly and transparently as part of our wider efforts to protect the public."