Live Facial Recognition trial in Ipswich secures arrests
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A trial of Live Facial Recognition technology in Ipswich resulted in five arrests and engagement with around 400 people in the town centre.
A trial of Live Facial Recognition technology in Ipswich resulted in five arrests and engagement with around 400 people in the town centre.
Using equipment from Essex police the technology was based at the Cornhill on Saturday (22 Feb) and used to locate people wanted in connection with criminal investigations.
Four of the arrests were for failing to appear before court and a fifth was for shop theft.
The technology compares live camera feeds of faces against a predetermined database or ‘watch list’ of people of interest. Put simply, if you’re not on the ‘watch list’ your face cannot be matched.
It’s important to emphasise the force takes the privacy of the public very seriously. On the day over a six hour period it was in use in Ipswich at the Cornhill, the technology scanned just over 47,000 faces.
The scanning of an image takes less than a second. The data/image of those not on the ‘watchlist’ is automatically and immediately deleted and not stored. Where there was a positive match, appropriate action was taken by officers on the ground to confirm ID and then assess what the next action is to be taken.
Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: ”This technology has been proven elsewhere to be an effective tactic for locating and arresting suspects so it was pleasing to see such a positive outcome with our trial in Ipswich.
“This innovative technology can play a vital role in protecting people, keeping them safe, investigating crimes, and getting justice for victims. It also means we are saving time and effort for our officers, leaving them able to do other work to protect and help the public.
“It was also very encouraging to see the public expressing curiosity and approaching us on the day to learn and understand more about the technology. Plenty of the public took the time look inside the van and see the system in action with virtually everyone, bar a couple of exceptions, very receptive and positive.
“We were able to show the public how the system operates and show how the data is deleted and faces are blurred in less than a second if they are not matched against the watchlist.
“We will now reflect on the trial in detail and I am optimistic that we will be using this technology again in the future."
Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I’m really pleased to see such positive and immediate results from this live facial recognition trial. This technology has huge potential to bring criminals to justice and to prevent crime, which I trust is welcomed by everyone.
“This technology has had a very positive impact on reducing levels of crime and improving detection rates in other forces and I am grateful to Essex for their support in this being trialled in Suffolk.
“Anything we can do to keep Suffolk safe by protecting homes and business has my full support.”
Previous release - 14 February 2025
Suffolk police is to trial use of Live Facial Recognition technology to keep people safe and deter crime.
The force is well-acquainted to embracing innovative technology to protect the public from serious harm, as well as supporting high quality investigations, and putting victims first and this use of Live Facial Recognition is another step in that progress.
The trial will take place on Saturday 22 February in Ipswich town centre and the force will be using two vans and equipment courtesy of Essex police.
During the day the technology will be used to locate people wanted in connection with investigations into serious offences.
Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: ”This technology has been proven elsewhere to be an effective tactic for locating and arresting suspects that are wanted for serious offences.
“People in Ipswich on Saturday 22 February should feel reassured that we are only looking for those individuals who have committed serious offences.
“We are keen to raise public awareness around our use of technology to protect communities and bring offenders to justice so it is important that we provide insight around the trial of this equipment and tactics.”
The technology compares live camera feeds of faces against a predetermined database or ‘watch list’ of people of interest. Put simply, if you’re not on the ‘watch list’ your face cannot be matched.
The scanning of an image takes less than a second. The data/image of those not on the ‘watchlist’ is automatically and immediately deleted and not stored. When there is a positive match, appropriate action will be taken by officers on the ground to confirm ID and then assess what the next action is to be taken.
(Picture courtesy of Essex Police)
ACC Bridger added: “It’s important to make clear that we take your privacy very seriously and images of members of the public won’t be stored.
“If you are in a location where LFR is being deployed and you are not one of the specific people we’re trying to locate, your image will be immediately and automatically deleted.
“It’s an effective way of finding people we want to speak to and keeping the public safe. This technology can save time and effort of our officers, leaving them able to do other work to protect and help the public.
“I’d also like to thank Essex police for supporting the work which will help inform future decision making around policing in Suffolk.”
(Picture courtesy of Essex Police)
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “I really welcome this live facial recognition trial. This technology has huge potential to bring criminals to justice and to prevent crime, which I trust is welcomed by everyone.
“Trials elsewhere in the country, such as in Croydon, have had a very positive impact on reducing levels of crime and improving detection rates.
“I look forward to seeing the results when the trial is completed – anything we can do to keep Suffolk safe by protecting homes and business has my full support.”
Live facial recognition | Suffolk Constabulary
(Picture below courtesy of Essex Police)
