Live facial recognition tech to be used by police at Leeds Festival
The facial recognition vans have already been used in Leeds and Huddersfield to find wanted people
Live facial recognition technology is set to be used by police at Leeds Festival later this month for the first time ever.
Vans with the technology fitted have already been seen in Leeds and Huddersfield, where they were used to detain people already listed as wanted by police.
West Yorkshire Police say the tech will be used in a "targeted and proportionate" way around the festival, which runs from August 27 until August 30.
Chief Inspector Dan Tillett, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Our priority is for everyone attending Leeds Festival to experience a safe and enjoyable event.
“Live Facial Recognition will form part of the wider safety operation at Bramham Park and will be used to help us prevent crime, safeguard the public and identify people who are wanted by police or who may present a risk to others.
“Whilst most people attending Leeds Festival are there to enjoy the event responsibly, we want to work in partnership to identify those who might seek to use the event as an opportunity to commit crime or cause harm. LFR provides us with an additional capability to identify those individuals quickly and effectively.
“Live Facial Recognition has already been used a number of times across West Yorkshire, including in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield city centres, as well as at major events.
"We are committed to using the technology responsibly, lawfully and transparently as a targeted policing tool to help make Leeds Festival as safe as possible for everyone attending."
Charli XCX, Kasabian and Raye are among headliners for this year's event at Bramham Park.