Hertfordshire Police introduce two new Live Facial Recognition vans
The technology compares facial images against a watchlist of wanted people
Hertfordshire Constabulary has introduced two dedicated Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans to help locate wanted offenders, prevent crime and protect the public.
The new vehicles and associated technology have been funded by Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Ash-Edwards following a successful trial.
LFR was first trialled in Cheshunt in December 2025 and has since been deployed at various locations across the county as part of a phased rollout.
The technology compares facial images captured by live cameras against a pre-authorised watchlist of people wanted by police. When a potential match is detected, an alert is generated for trained officers to review.
Detective Chief Superintendent Nev Hanks said: “Having two dedicated Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans gives Hertfordshire Constabulary greater flexibility to use the technology across the county, supporting our efforts to identify wanted individuals, prevent crime and protect the public.”
Public feedback gathered following a deployment in Broxbourne at the end of 2025 indicated strong support for the technology.
Of the 3,787 people who responded to a survey conducted by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, 82% said police use of LFR was always or usually acceptable.
A further 91% believed it would help catch more criminals, while 93% said its presence would not deter them from visiting a town centre.
PCC Ash-Edwards said: “The acquisition of Live Facial Recognition vans for Hertfordshire is an important step in the police’s use of effective technology to catch criminals and keep communities safe, following successful pilots earlier in the year.”
Police said strict safeguards were in place to protect privacy, as images of people who do not generate a match are deleted immediately, while images associated with a potential match are automatically deleted within 24 hours.
A potential match does not automatically result in enforcement action, with trained officers reviewing alerts and applying professional judgement.
The force also says details of deployments are routinely published in advance, with results made available within five working days, except where publication could compromise an operational policing objective.