Body Worn Video (BWV) Cameras with Facial Recognition Technology

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Keywords

Body, Worn, Video, BWV, Facial, Recognition, Technology, Live, LFR, Evaluated, Evaluating, Trialling, Trialled, Cameras,

Publication Number

PUB 1234

FOI Reference Number

15901

Request Title

BWV - Facial Recognition Technology

Date Range

N/A

Information Requested

Please confirm whether your force in the last 12 months has evaluated and/or trialled, or is in the process of evaluating and or/trialling, body worn video cameras with facial recognition technology. (To be clear, this means body cameras that have an additional capability of being able to scan faces and notify police when a particular individual is recognised; it excludes current generation body cameras that are used solely to record interactions.)

Where such evaluation and/or trial has taken place or is taking place, please provide details of which system or systems is being looked at by your force.

Where such evaluation and/or trial has taken place, please provide a copy of the resulting evaluation report or assessment.

Disclosure with Exemptions

Full Refusal Section 17 with Partial NCND

Information Correct as at

19 July 2021

Date of Disclosure

10 August 2021

FOI 15901 Response

Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does not hold information relating to your request.

Therefore, and in accordance with Section 17(1) of the FOIA, this response serves as a formal notification of refusal of your request on the basis that Essex Police does not hold, for the purposes of FOIA the information requested.

To provide some explanation and to meet our duty to assist under Section 16 of the FOIA, Essex Police can advise:

Essex Police is not currently testing/evaluating the use of Body Worn Video in concert with Facial Recognition Technology for overt policing.

In addition to the above, Essex Police can neither confirm nor deny any other information is held in regard to the covert use of Facial Recognition Technology when utilised in conjunction with any other type of wearable or carried device.

Any disclosure under FOI is a release to the public at large. Whilst not questioning the motives of the applicant, confirming or denying that any other information relating to the covert practice of facial recognition is held would show criminals what the capacity, tactical abilities and capabilities of the force are, allowing them to target specific areas of the UK to conduct their criminal/terrorist activities. Confirming or denying information is held regarding the specific circumstances in which the Police Service may or may not deploy the use of facial recognition would lead to an increase of harm to covert operations and compromise law enforcement. This would be to the detriment of providing an efficient policing service and a failure in providing a duty of care to all members of the public.

The threat from terrorism cannot be ignored. It is generally recognised that the international security landscape is increasingly complex and unpredictable. Since 2006, the UK Government has published the threat level, based upon current intelligence and that threat is currently categorised as ‘substantial’, see below link:

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels

The UK continues to face a sustained threat from violent extremists and terrorists. It is well established that Police forces use covert tactics and surveillance to gain intelligence in order to counteract criminal behaviour. It has been previously documented in the media that many terrorist incidents have been thwarted due to intelligence gained by these means.

Confirming or denying whether any other information is or is not held relating to the covert use of facial recognition technology would limit operational capabilities as criminals/terrorists would gain a greater understanding of the Police’s methods and techniques, enabling offenders to take steps to counter them. It may also suggest the limitations of Police capabilities in this area, which may further encourage criminal/terrorist activity by exposing potential vulnerabilities. This detrimental effect is increased if the request is made to several different law enforcement bodies. In addition to the local criminal fraternity now being better informed, those intent on organised crime throughout the UK will be able to ‘map’ where the use of certain tactics are or are not deployed. This can be useful information to those committing crimes. It would have the likelihood of identifying location-specific operations which would ultimately compromise Police tactics, operations and future prosecutions as criminals could counteract the measures used against them.

Any information identifying the focus of policing activity could be used to the advantage of terrorists or criminal organisations. Information that undermines the operational integrity of these activities will adversely affect public safety and have a negative impact on both National Security and Law Enforcement.

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