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Met Police touts success of live facial recognition trial after woman wanted for more than 20 years is arrested in London
The pilot used static cameras for the first time and recorded one false alert as police say the technology helped target serious offenders.
- The Metropolitan Police concluded a six-month live facial-recognition trial in Croydon, where 24 static cameras scanned more than 470,000 people and resulted in 173 arrests for serious offences including kidnap and rape.
- Running from October 2025 to March 2026, the pilot deployed static cameras on Croydon High Street instead of traditional mobile vans to locate individuals wanted by courts.
- Arrests included a 36-year-old woman wanted since 2004, a 31-year-old man sought for voyeurism, and a 41-year-old man connected to a November rape; crime fell 10.5% and violence against women dropped 21%.
- Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for live facial recognition, said the results show why the technology is "such a powerful tool when it's used carefully, openly and in the right places."
- The Met confirmed it will continue using static cameras in Croydon for regular deployments, maintaining the technology plays a vital part in keeping London safe.
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Met Police arrests more than 170 people using facial recognition cameras including woman wanted for more than 20 years
Over 170 people have been arrested as part of a trial into facial recognition cameras in south London, including a woman who was wanted for over two decades. In total 173 suspects were arrested for crimes including kidnap, rape and serious sexual assault during the pilot in Croydon, during which static cameras rather than vans were used for the first time.The Metropolitan Police said crime in the area reduced by 10.5 per cent during the trial, w…
·London, United Kingdom
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Sky News UKReposted by 
Great Yorkshire Radio
Great Yorkshire RadioMet Police touts success of live facial recognition trial after woman wanted for more than 20 years is arrested in London
During the six-month trial, the Met Police said 173 suspects were arrested for crimes including kidnapping, rape and serious sexual assault.
·United Kingdom
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Evening Standard+5 Reposted by 5 other sources
Woman wanted for more than 20 years arrested in live facial recognition pilot
The 36-year-old was among 173 suspects arrested in Croydon in a six-month period.
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources19
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 25%
C 58%
R 17%
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