After the Met won a recent high court challenge over legality of using LFR, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley declared it an “important victory for public safety”.
He has long been confident that the technology – which the Met is now using almost daily in deployments across the capital – is a fast and effective way to get criminals off the streets.
We saw this in action during the trial in Croydon in January – officers alerted every few minutes to a passer-by who had been matched to a suspect on their watch list.
Plenty of shoppers I spoke to in the town during this trial told me it made them feel safer, although others expressed concerns about accuracy, privacy and future use of the technology.
The Met will be hoping the results of this pilot will address those fears and strengthen public confidence.
It also comes as the government considers its approach to LFR, following a public consultation.
Sir Mark previously urged ministers not to “over-regulate” its use.
The government has expressed support for the technology, however, ministers also said they recognised opposition, including from civil rights and privacy groups, and that a “more specific legal framework” was needed going forward.
