The Home Office has not issued advice to police forces on the activation of specific facial recognition functions within surveillance software.

The use of facial recognition technology by police forces is an operational matter for chief constables, who are responsible for deciding how and when to deploy capabilities in accordance with the law and relevant guidance.

Police use of facial recognition is governed by a legal framework which includes data protection, equality, human rights laws, national guidance issued by the College of Policing, a surveillance camera code of practice and forces’ own published policies. Their use of the technology must be for a policing purpose and be necessary, proportionate and fair.

The Police Reform Bill will introduce a new legal framework to underpin law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, making it clear when use of these technologies can be justified, including creation of a single, expert body to provide independent advice and oversight.

In the meantime, there is an established legal basis for use of Live Facial Recognition Technology, which has been tested and confirmed by the Courts, and includes compliance with data protection, equality, and human rights laws. In addition, users of the technology must comply with College of Policing guidance and their own published policies. This means privacy rights are considered in relation to use of live facial recognition technology, which can only be used for a policing purpose, where necessary, proportionate, and fair.

For example, police can use live facial recognition only for targeted, intelligence led, time-bound deployments. During deployments, images of those passing the camera are compared only against a specific watchlist of individuals wanted by police or courts, and images of people who are not a match are immediately deleted.

To inform the new legal framework governing law enforcement use of facial recognition, biometrics and similar technologies, the Government launched a public consultation on 04/12/2025. The consultation explored when and how technologies like live facial recognition should be used and asked the public what factors are relevant to consider when assessing interference with privacy and other rights. The Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

The Police Reform Bill will introduce a new legal framework to underpin law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, making it clear when use of these technologies can be justified, including creation of a single, expert body to provide independent advice and oversight.

In the meantime, there is an established legal basis for use of Live Facial Recognition Technology, which has been tested and confirmed by the Courts, and includes compliance with data protection, equality, and human rights laws. In addition, users of the technology must comply with College of Policing guidance and their own published policies. This means privacy rights are considered in relation to use of live facial recognition technology, which can only be used for a policing purpose, where necessary, proportionate, and fair.

For example, police can use live facial recognition only for targeted, intelligence led, time-bound deployments. During deployments, images of those passing the camera are compared only against a specific watchlist of individuals wanted by police or courts, and images of people who are not a match are immediately deleted.

To inform the new legal framework governing law enforcement use of facial recognition, biometrics and similar technologies, the Government launched a public consultation on 04/12/2025. The consultation explored when and how technologies like live facial recognition should be used and asked the public what factors are relevant to consider when assessing interference with privacy and other rights. The Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

The Government has not issued specific guidance on the ethical deployment of surveillance technologies, including facial recognition. However, when using these technologies, police forces must comply with data protection, equality, human rights and other relevant laws, meaning that all deployments must be for a policing purpose and be necessary, proportionate and fair.

For live facial recognition, forces must also comply with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, the College of Policing’s national guidance and their own published policies.

On 4 December last year, the Government launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used, and what safeguards and oversight are needed. The consultation has now closed and a formal Government response will be published in due course, setting out the findings and next steps, including legislative measures.

The Police Reform Bill will introduce a new legal framework to underpin law enforcement use of these technologies, including the creation of a single expert body to provide independent advice and oversight.

Oversight of police use of facial recognition is currently provided by a number of bodies responsible for ensuring compliance with the law and safeguarding people’s rights. These include the Information Commissioner’s Office (data protection) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalities and human rights), alongside His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

The Home Office does not collect information on the nationality of companies supplying technology to UK police forces and law enforcement bodies. The procurement of technologies is a matter for individual organisations, having considered the legal, ethical and security requirements.

In doing so, procurement decisions by police forces and law enforcement bodies must comply with UK procurement law, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Procurement Act 2023, and relevant National Cyber Security Centre guidance on supply chain risk. They are also expected to follow the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Additionally, the Live Facial Recognition Commercial Framework produced by BlueLight Commercial is available to support police forces making procurement decisions before they issue contracts.

To ensure national consistency and public confidence, the Police Reform White Paper set out our intention to have one national procurement system under the National Police Service.

The Home Office does not collect information on the nationality of companies supplying technology to UK police forces and law enforcement bodies. The procurement of technologies is a matter for individual organisations, having considered the legal, ethical and security requirements.

In doing so, procurement decisions by police forces and law enforcement bodies must comply with UK procurement law, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Procurement Act 2023, and relevant National Cyber Security Centre guidance on supply chain risk. They are also expected to follow the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Additionally, the Live Facial Recognition Commercial Framework produced by BlueLight Commercial is available to support police forces making procurement decisions before they issue contracts.

To ensure national consistency and public confidence, the Police Reform White Paper set out our intention to have one national procurement system under the National Police Service.

All digital forensic activity must comply with existing legislation, including the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology uses live video footage of people passing an LFR camera in a public place and compares their images to a specific list of people wanted by the police (known as a watchlist).

Police use of facial recognition is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights laws. In addition, they must also comply with the Surveillance Camera Code, College of Policing guidance and all published policing policies. This means the technology can only be used for a policing purpose, where necessary, proportionate, and fair.

Operational guidance is provided by the College of Policing in the form of an Authorised Professional Practice (APP), which sets out when the police can use LFR and the categories of people they can look for and where images they use to compile the watchlist. Following a possible LFR alert, there is a requirement for a specially trained police officer to review it and decide what action, if any, to take. The police must immediately delete the biometric data of anyone the system does not match to the watchlist. The watchlist itself is destroyed after each deployment.

Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology uses live video footage of people passing an LFR camera in a public place and compares their images to a specific list of people wanted by the police (known as a watchlist).

Police use of facial recognition is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights laws. In addition, they must also comply with the Surveillance Camera Code, College of Policing guidance and all published policing policies. This means the technology can only be used for a policing purpose, where necessary, proportionate, and fair.

Operational guidance is provided by the College of Policing in the form of an Authorised Professional Practice (APP), which sets out when the police can use LFR and the categories of people they can look for and where images they use to compile the watchlist. Following a possible LFR alert, there is a requirement for a specially trained police officer to review it and decide what action, if any, to take. The police must immediately delete the biometric data of anyone the system does not match to the watchlist. The watchlist itself is destroyed after each deployment.

Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology uses live video footage of people passing an LFR camera in a public place and compares their images to a specific list of people wanted by the police (known as a watchlist).

Police use of facial recognition is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights laws. In addition, they must also comply with the Surveillance Camera Code, College of Policing guidance and all published policing policies. This means the technology can only be used for a policing purpose, where necessary, proportionate, and fair.

Operational guidance is provided by the College of Policing in the form of an Authorised Professional Practice (APP), which sets out when the police can use LFR and the categories of people they can look for and where images they use to compile the watchlist. Following a possible LFR alert, there is a requirement for a specially trained police officer to review it and decide what action, if any, to take. The police must immediately delete the biometric data of anyone the system does not match to the watchlist. The watchlist itself is destroyed after each deployment.

The Police Reform Bill will introduce a new legal framework to underpin law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, and this will give due consideration to reporting and transparency.

The Home Office has bilateral arrangements for sharing criminal records data, including biometrics, with a small number of countries outside of the EU and Migration 5 (M5) / 5Eyes. Such data can also be shared with other countries on a case-by-case basis via INTERPOL. All sharing of biometrics and criminal records data with third countries is subject to an assessment of data protection and human rights risks.

The police have a responsibility to monitor a protest if serious disorder is expected and to keep the public safe.

Facial recognition must be used in a way that complies with the legal framework which includes human rights, equality and data protection laws, national guidance, a code of practice and forces’ own published policies. This means that all deployments must be for a policing purpose and be necessary, proportionate, and fair.

The Home Office has not issued specific guidance. Police use of facial recognition and similar technologies is currently governed by a legal framework that includes data protection, equality and human rights laws, national guidance, a code of practice and force level policies. The College of Policing has also published guidance and an Authorised Professional Practice setting out police forces use new technology. However, we intend to bring forward a new legal framework to provide clearer, more specific rules.

The Government’s aim is that a new legal framework will ensure all police forces across the country can use facial recognition and similar technologies with greater confidence, and that their uses and limits are clear to the public.

Last year, we launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used, and what safeguards and oversight are needed.

Guidance for forces using the Police National Database is provided through the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing and reflects established standards relating to the capture, handling, and use of facial images. This includes consideration of image quality and the need to manage the risk of misidentification.

Any potential matches are reviewed by trained officers and must be corroborated before any operational or investigatory action is taken.

Police forces must have regard to the Home Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, which sets out expectations for the use of surveillance camera systems and includes requirements around necessity, proportionality, and appropriate safeguards.

Individual police forces remain responsible for local policies and procedures in line with national guidance and the law.

Police forces using facial recognition must comply with existing legal obligations, including the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and Data Protection Act 2018.

Facial recognition algorithms provided by or procured with Home Office funding for police use are required to be independently tested for bias. Independent testing is important because it helps determine the setting in which an algorithm can safely and fairly be used.

Where forces procure their own algorithms, forces must ensure that any facial recognition software does not present unacceptable levels of bias. For live facial recognition, this expectation is set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, which requires algorithms to be independently tested before use, with the results informing how systems are configured for safe and fair deployment.

The government intends to bring forward a new legal framework to create consistent, resilient rules and appropriate safeguards for the use of facial recognition and similar technologies.