Retrospective Facial Recognition (RFR)
Keywords
Retrospective, Facial, Recognition, RFR, Collection, Images, Images, Dynamic, Video, Clips, Database, Watchlist, Record, Identify, Unknown, Subjects, Live, Time-lag, Plans, Future, Trialled, Trial, Criteria, Assessed, Analysis, Results, Decision, Permanently, Conclusion, Scope, Operation, Technology, Nature, Sources, Limit, Biometric, Personal, Retained, Guidance, Procedures, Document, Privacy, Impact, Equality, Potential, Bias, Protected, Characteristics.
Publication Number
PUB 1073
FOI Reference Number
16552
Request Title
Retrospective Facial Recognition (RFR)
Date Range
N/A
Information Requested
This request relates to the use of Retrospective Facial Recognition (‘RFR’) by your police force. By RFR, we mean a two-step use of facial recognition technology. The first step is the collection, not necessarily for the purpose of facial recognition, of images and/or dynamic video which include the faces of unknown subjects. The second step is the use of facial recognition technology to compare those images or video clips against any form of database, watchlist or other record, in order to identify (or assist with the identification of) those unknown subjects. When using live facial recognition, the two steps happen near-simultaneously. RFR is characterised by a time-lag between the two steps. For the avoidance of doubt, by a ‘time- lag’ we mean any amount of time, no matter how short, which results in the technology not being characterised as live facial recognition technology.
Please answer the following question:
1. Is your police force is currently trialling and/or using any form of RFR technology, and does it have plans to do so in the future?
If the answer to question 1 is yes, please provide the information requested below in respect of each use of RFR technology that is or will be trialled and/or used.
2. The name and purpose of that use of RFR technology.
3. The date on which that RFR technology was first used/trialled and:
a. in respect of any trial, how long the trial period lasted or will last, the criteria against which any trial is being assessed, together with any analysis of the results of such a trial;
b. any decision to permanently roll out that use of RFR technology; and
c. how many times that RFR technology has been used since the conclusion of any trial.
4. A description of the scope and operation of that RFR technology in use, and in particular:
a. the nature and source(s) of the images and/or video feeds of unknown subjects fed into the RFR technology, and whether there is any limit on the nature or source of those images and/or video feeds;
b. the nature and source(s) of the database(s)/watchlist(s)/other record(s) used by the RFR technology to identify (or assist with the identification of) the unknown subjects, and whether there is any limit on the nature or source of those database(s)/watchlist(s)/other record(s);
c. the number of images and/or the number of minutes of video feed that have been fed through the RFR technology during any trial and/or its use;
d. whether any biometric or personal data are retained, and if so for how long, relating to the subjects who are: (i) identified by the RFR technology as having been matched; and (ii) not identified by the RFR technology as having been matched; and
e. if biometric and personal data are deleted after the RFR technology has processed them, please confirm that they are deleted immediately and permanently. If this is not the case, please describe how, why, where and for how long they are retained.
5. Any guidance/policies/standard operating procedures relating to your police force’s use/trial of the RFR technology. Please confirm whether each document provided has been published.
6. Any Privacy Impact Assessment, Data Protection Impact Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment or any other impact assessment conducted in relation to this RFR technology, together with the dates on which each such assessment was conducted. If no such assessments were conducted, please confirm this.
7. Any documents or information detailing how your police force considers that it is complying with s149 Equality Act 2010 in relation to the trial/use of this RFR technology, in particular how your police force has investigated whether it has the potential for bias against people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
Disclosure with Exemptions
No Information Held
Information Correct as at
N/A
Date of Disclosure
03 February 2022
Related Documents/Links
FOI 16552 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does not hold information relating to your request.
To provide some explanation and to meet our duty to assist under Section 16 of the FOIA, Essex Police can advise:
In order to best support the delivery of its policing purpose, Essex Police constantly strive to keep pace with new and emerging technologies. To this end, Essex Police are currently scoping opportunities for the use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology.
There is now legal precedent for the use of LFR in UK law enforcement. In a recent High Court case, it was held that the current legal regime in the United Kingdom is adequate to ensure the appropriate and non-arbitrary use of LFR in a free and civilized society.
Source: R (Bridges) v CCSWP and SSHD https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bridges-swp-judgment-Final03-09-19-1.pdf
However, Essex Police have no agreed plans to launch the use of such technology. Furthermore, the initiation of any project or technology involving personal data must first be compliant with a number of Essex Police policies, procedures and processes. This involves identifying and assessing the risks associated with the project (including any adverse effects on the rights or freedoms of the people of Essex), and holding discussions with key stakeholders (such as the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex) and any relevant public consultative or ethical review bodies.
It should also be noted that Essex Police does have access to the Police National Database (PND), which contains Facial Recognition technology. Only images held within PND are subject to this technology.
You may also find the below links of interest:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-biometrics-strategy
https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/tag/facial-recognition-software/