New pilot aims to disrupt violence against women and girls in Northamptonshire
Live facial recognition cameras are being tested in Northampton, Kettering and Wellingborough, as Northamptonshire Police step up efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.
Live facial recognition (LFR) cameras are being deployed in Northamptonshire town centres as part of a global campaign against violence targeting women and girls.
The cameras will be rolled out in Northampton on 28th November and 5th December, Kettering on 29th November, and in Wellingborough on 6th December.
This marks the first use of facial recognition cameras in town centres by Northamptonshire Police, following previous deployments at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone over the past three years.
The technology matches faces captured on video to a pre-loaded watchlist which includes high-risk sex offenders and those wanted for arrest.
A specialist van equipped with LFR is being loaned from Bedfordshire Police to support the campaign, which is part of the global "16 Days of Activism" initiative to address violence against women and girls.
The targeted deployment aims to disrupt and potentially arrest individuals at risk of committing predatory behaviour or offences related to violence against women and girls.
Biometric data from individuals who do not cause an alert is automatically deleted, while images flagged by the system will be erased within 24 hours after evaluation.
Northamptonshire Police emphasised that rigorous testing ensures there is no bias in terms of age, gender, or ethnicity within the technology.
Thames Valley Police will provide signage in the selected areas on the days the technology is deployed, alongside prior community engagement work.