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Greater Manchester Police to deploy Live Facial recognition technology to keep communities safe
- Oct 20, 2025
- Latest News
Greater Manchester Police are going to be using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology to ensure the continued safety of communities in Greater Manchester.
The Home Office has supplied GMP with two LFR vans for use in areas where an operational need has been identified – not exclusively but areas with crime issues and large footfall, as well as music and sporting events.
They are due to deploy the vans on 21 and 23 October in Sale town centre.
The cameras will focus on a specific area or crowd and detect faces compared to a pre-prepared watchlist with an alert issued immediately if there is a match.
They will delete the images with alerts immediately after using them or within 24 hours.
The images and biometric data of those who don’t cause an alert are automatically and immediately deleted.
They will record the CCTV footage that is used by the LFR technology, and keep it for 31 days subject to any requirements under CPIA and MOPI.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: “At GMP, we use traditional policing tools but also embrace new and developing technology.
‘This is a really good example of police officers and technology working hand-in-hand and will bolster our Neighbourhood Policing operation.
“LFR can be used in a number of ways, including to prevent and detect crime, find wanted criminals, safeguard vulnerable people, and to protect people from harm.
“It will also free up officers to respond to emergencies, spend time patrolling within their communities and investigating crime.
“It is a precise and targeted tool, only identifying specific individuals who have been added to a bespoke watchlist and will significantly speed up the process of identifying people at risk or wanted by police.
“It’s important that we dispel any myths around LFR and to be open and transparent with members of the public - it is not a ‘mass surveillance’ tool and law-abiding members of the public have nothing to fear if they see one our vans.
“We are committed to using it responsibly, transparently, and in full compliance with the law."
LFR has been successfully used by the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police since 2017, first deployed in the UK at the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus in Cardiff, and is being trialled at several forces including GMP, Hampshire, Essex and Bedfordshire.
In August 2024, use of LFR was endorsed by the Greater Manchester Independent Police Ethics Committee.
ACC Jackson added: “We have undertaken a robust process to ensure appropriate people wanted for criminal offences are contained in the lists we use for facial recognition
"There are strict criteria around the necessity and proportionality of the use of facial recognition before it can be deployed in the community.
“You will see the vans out and about on the streets of Greater Manchester and they can be used at big, live events like festivals, concerts and football matches.
"We encourage members of the public to come and view the vans when they are operational in the community understand how they operate and speak to officers around the safeguards in place.
“If you do happen to walk past one of our cameras and you’re not a match, your biometric data is immediately deleted. There is no recording or rewind facility.
“LFR has been used with great success at other forces and we will draw on their experiences to make sure it a success in Greater Manchester.”
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “Live Facial Recognition technology represents a significant step forward in our efforts to keep Greater Manchester safe.
"With the support of the Home Office, GMP is now equipped to use this precise and targeted tool to identify individuals wanted for serious offences, safeguard vulnerable people, and reduce anti-social behaviour in our communities.
“I welcome the robust ethical oversight and transparency measures in place, including publicising deployment schedules and ensuring biometric data is not stored.
"The Greater Manchester Independent Police Ethics Committee discussed this at length, taking in all considerations, so I am confident protective measures are in place.
“This is about responsible innovation—enhancing public safety while protecting civil liberties.
"I fully support GMP’s commitment to using LFR in a way that builds trust and confidence across Greater Manchester.”
What is Live facial recognition (LFR)?
LFR is a real-time deployment comparing a live camera feed (or multiple feeds) of faces against a predetermined watchlist to locate people of interest such as missing people or those with outstanding warrants.
How is LFR used?
LFR is used to reassure the public, identify people suspected of criminal activity or those who have outstanding warrants. It is also used to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
It can be used to locate missing persons or those suffering with difficulties that may mean they need to be located urgently to help them.
LFR is often used at large events or in busy areas, typically using mobile LFR vans. The vans have clear signs on the outside and there is also signage in the area to tell people it is being operated.
There are also operational staff on the ground to monitor alerts and speak to the public if they have questions about the technology.
How does LFR work?
Each face that is found is mapped by software, taking measurements of facial features, such as the distance between the eyes and the length of the jawline, to create a unique set of biometric data.
This dataset is then compared to the watchlist. If the image is sufficiently similar to someone in its database, an alert is generated and sent to an engagement team, who will then speak to the person of interest and a normal policing decision made.