Last updated on 24 May 2026
If you were wandering along Clarence Street (the main pedestrianised shopping street) in Kingston on 14th May you may have seen the Metropolitan Police’s proactive operation using LFR or Live Facial Recognition technology. The technology is used to identify individuals wanted by the police or the courts.
How it works
Cameras are set up in specific, marked areas. When people pass through that area their images are streamed directly to the Live Facial Recognition system and compared to a ‘watchlist’. If no match is made, the data is automatically deleted instantly.
Controversy and legality
Of course, this new technology is not without its critics and controversies. Groups like Big Brother Watch have concerns over privacy and accuracy resulting in a High Court judgement in April 2026. The Court rejected arguments that LFR violates privacy rights under European Convention on Human Rights. The judgement held that the Met’s policy contained “clear, precise and effective safeguards” for its use.
Arrests
As a result of the operation in Kingston on 14th May, police officers from the Kingston Town Centre Team made six arrests. These included arrests for a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, possession of an offensive weapon and for failings to appear in court. Additionally, officers engaged with five offenders to ensure they were complying with court imposed conditions managing their risk within the community.
The Met said “These targeted operations form part of our ongoing work to keep Kingston Town Centre safe, reduce crime, and protect the public by identifying and dealing with wanted individuals.”