Facial recognition cameras to be used again

Officers plan to use live facial recognition cameras once again in three towns.

Suffolk Police said it made four arrests and scanned 80,000 faces when it used the technology in Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds in August.

The force said it would help "keep people safe" when it used it again in the towns next week.

Suffolk's police and crime commissioner, Conservative Tim Passmore, said the cameras had "huge potential to bring criminals to justice and prevent crime."

The technology was also trialled at the First Light Festival in Lowestoft this year, and last year, and also in Ipswich town centre in February 2025.

Suffolk Police says the technology is used to identify people officers want to talk to in connection with ongoing investigations.

It compares faces of passers-by with a police watch list.

Images of anyone not on the list were immediately deleted, the force explained.

Sgt Anthony Welford said "many people" spoke to officers to learn more about the technology during previous deployments.

"It helps us use our resources more effectively and allows officers to remain focused on protecting and supporting our communities," he said.

The camera van, being borrowed from Bedfordshire Police, is due to be used in Lowestoft on 3 November, Bury St Edmunds on 4 November and Ipswich on 5 November.

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