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Police to use facial scanners to identify people

Tue May 23, 2017 8:40 pm

And it begins




Police have revealed how facial scanning will work at the Champions League final

Tuesday 23rd May 2017

Facial recognition software to be used at Champions League Final in Cardiff


Police in Cardiff say their new facial recognition software will monitor people at the Champions League final who are on "watch lists" as well as help in the search for missing people.

The force has revealed more details of how the technology will be used at next month's Champions League final.

The force says that the real-time cameras linked to facial recognition software will monitor people in and around the city centre.

The images will be use identify people who exist on pre-determined watch lists, usually used for terrorists and hooligans.

South Wales Police say that each watch list may include wanted or persons suspected of criminality, missing persons as well as persons of interest.

The technology can be used in both public safety and national security environments, such as identifying individuals during a disturbance, or maintaining the security of high traffic places such as Cardiff Airport and sporting stadiums.

The police have reassured people that their privacy will not be put at risk.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: “The world we live in is changing and with that comes a need to change the way we police. We are investing in ensuring our officers have the tools and technology needed to most effectively protect our communities. As technology evolves into the future, so too will the way our police force operates.

Police running security checks near the Principality Stadium in advance of the Champions League Final (Photo: Walesonline)
“This facial recognition technology will enable us to search, scan and monitor images and video of suspects against offender databases, leading to the faster and more accurate identification of persons of interest. The technology can also enhance our existing CCTV network in the future by extracting faces in real time and instantaneously matching them against a watch list of individuals, including missing people.

"We are very cognisant of concerns about privacy and we are building in checks and balances into our methodology to reassure the public that the approach we take is justified and proportionate.

“We have had detailed discussions with all interested regulatory partners, including the local Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as well as the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, to ensure that we are considering the wider needs in relation to the Data Protection Act and to ensure that the deployment of this technology is proportionate whilst recognising the need to balance security and privacy.”

Security barriers going up around the Principality Stadium in advance of the Champions League Final (Photo: Walesonline)
Inspector Scott Lloyd, Fusion Lead for Facial Recognition, said: “Like fingerprinting, facial recognition is a form of identification that allows a computer to quickly match similar faces based on facial features.”

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: “South Wales is one of the safest areas in the United Kingdom to live, work and visit - and Cardiff is known world-wide as a welcoming capital city - but it is essential that we evolve our policing and embrace technology to maintain and support safe, confident communities.”



“Our approach to policing is very much centred upon early intervention and prompt, positive action; the introduction of Facial Recognition helps to support these aims by allowing us to identify vulnerability, challenge perpetrators and reduce instances of offending within environments where the technology is deployed.

“The introduction of a system such as this will invariably raise certain questions around privacy and whilst I appreciate these concerns I am reassured by the protocols and processes that have been established by the Chief Constable and operational colleagues to ensure the integrity and legitimacy of its use.”

The South Wales Police Facial Recognition Team can be contacted at AFR@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
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