First Sussex Arrest Made Using Live Facial Recognition Technology

A drugs suspect has become the first person in Sussex to be arrested using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, marking a new chapter in how police in the county tackle serious crime. On December 2, officers deployed LFR in Brighton city centre, where the technology identified a 42-year-old man wanted on suspicion of a range […]

A drugs suspect has become the first person in Sussex to be arrested using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, marking a new chapter in how police in the county tackle serious crime.

On December 2, officers deployed LFR in Brighton city centre, where the technology identified a 42-year-old man wanted on suspicion of a range of offences linked to drug supply and organised crime.

The suspect was stopped in Western Road and arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply, participating in activities connected to an organised crime group, money laundering and fraud by false representation before being later bailed pending further enquiries.

Live Facial Recognition operates by comparing real-time camera feeds against a predetermined watchlist of individuals wanted for serious offences, such as drugs, sexual violence or domestic abuse, and only those flagged on this list are subject to further engagement by officers. Images of members of the public not on the watchlist are automatically blurred and deleted to protect privacy, and watchlist images are deleted within 24 hours after each day of deployment.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said the technology is already showing its value in helping officers identify and apprehend dangerous criminals and sexual predators who pose significant risks to public safety. She emphasised that its use must remain proportionate, ethical and transparent, and that she will be scrutinising deployments to address public concerns around privacy and potential bias.

The LFR deployments in Sussex follow a successful bid with Surrey Police to secure two LFR vans funded by the Home Office, which have already been used in other locations such as Redhill and Crawley. An officer must confirm any match before deciding on the appropriate engagement or arrest, and all deployments are clearly signposted and authorised at a senior level to ensure they comply with statutory requirements.

This arrest represents an early milestone in Sussex’s use of facial recognition technology as part of its broader strategy to tackle serious and organised crime, reflecting similar moves across other forces in the UK to incorporate advanced tools into policing while balancing civil liberties and public safety.