For the second time, the Metropolitan Police has deployed live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Lewisham without engaging with the local community beforehand. Councillors, including New Cross Gate councillor Liam Shrivastava, expressed concerns about the lack of communication surrounding the controversial technology. Despite recommendations for better engagement, the police have continued to deploy LFR in the area with little notice to residents.
Shrivastava highlighted the issue of oversight, noting that the council has no information on who the police are targeting with the technology and are not provided with demographic data or details on false matches. The force confirmed that they do not record demographic information in their LFR watchlists and do not publish data on the demographics of those stopped or arrested. Concerns were raised about the lack of engagement with the community and the need for transparency in the deployment of LFR in Lewisham.
The Met Police defended their use of LFR, stating that the majority of residents, business owners, and political representatives in Lewisham support the deployments. They emphasized that they have provided information and briefings to residents and community groups, responding to feedback and revising tactics where needed. However, concerns remain about the lack of legislation governing the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement, with calls for new legal frameworks to address the broad discretion currently employed by police forces. Despite increased use of LFR by UK police, questions remain about the impact on civil liberties and the need for robust regulation of the technology.