WATCH: Live Facial Recognition Technology comes to Sussex and Surrey

Live facial recognition technology is now being used in Sussex.

The force, along with Surrey Police, has secured two Home Office–funded vans, which have been deployed for the first time in Redhill and Crawley.

The system checks faces in real time against a watchlist of wanted offenders, with all other images deleted instantly.

Police say the national algorithm shows no statistical bias, and officers will confirm any match before taking any action.

In line with statutory legal requirements, the vans will be clearly signposted when deployed and deployment locations will be publicised Sussex Police website in advance. Deployments will also only be authorised by those of a Superintendent rank and in a proportionate manner.

Detective Chief Superintendent Carwyn Hughes, Business Lead for live facial recognition for Surrey Police and Sussex Police, said: “The introduction of the live facial recognition vans, which are already being used successfully by other forces in the UK, is a vital tool to help us to catch criminals, protect communities and deliver an outstanding service.

“We appreciate that some people may have concerns about the technology, but I would like to reassure that it has been extensively tested by the National Physical Laboratory and has already been successfully used by police forces across the country over the last few years.

“We have been meticulously planning the rollout of the vans to ensure our use is appropriate, proportionate and that we are operating with transparency. We will only be deploying to specific locations based on crime data, hotspots and potentially as part of a wider operation.

“It is our responsibility to use every tactic and innovation available to us to keep the public safe, deter criminality, protect people from harm and locate the most serious of offenders - and the live facial recognition vans will help us to do exactly that.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: "As Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, my priority is to ensure everyone feels safe, protected and confident in the policing they receive.

“The introduction of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans marks a bold step forward in smart, targeted policing.

“We’re using cutting-edge, intelligence-led technology to locate offenders causing the most harm like sex offenders, domestic abusers and prolific shoplifters.

“These vans give criminals nowhere to hide.

“LFR technology has already helped catch hundreds of dangerous individuals in other parts of the country and now it’s Sussex’s turn.

“This isn’t about surveillance – it’s about safeguarding.

“Every match is verified by a police officer and, if you’re not on the watchlist, your image is deleted instantly.

“This is human-led policing, governed by strict legal safeguards and designed to protect - not profile - our communities.

“We’re not just catching criminals; we’re preventing crime before it happens.

“This is about reassurance, transparency and trust and using all the tools at our disposal to keep Sussex safe, while upholding the public’s rights to privacy.”

Nathan Seymour-Hyde, Crime partner at Reeds Solicitors LLP, comments: “Many of the widespread concerns about facial recognition technology have been addressed by the safeguards now in place – including advance publication of deployments, clear public signage, rapid deletion of non-matches, and the requirement for officers to manually verify any alert before action is taken. One would hope that such verification occurs before any arrest or search, as false arrests will naturally give rise to complaints and civil legal action in some cases. However, concern also lies in transparency and oversight: the public must have confidence that the technology is used proportionately, accurately, and with proper independent scrutiny. Without clear statutory limits, there remains a real risk of mission creep – a gradual expansion of its use beyond serious criminality into broader areas of policing.”

The vans will be available to be used by other forces for mutual aid and will be funded by the Home Office for five years.