Details of the facial recognition system used by the Metropolitan Police

The request was successful.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Under the Freedom of Information Act please can you supply the following information:

With reference to comments Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe made in his interview on the 9th March 2015: http://www.lbc.co.uk/put-cctv-in-all-hom...

“…so over the last year as facial recognition software has got better it means we can apply the software to the images of burglaries or robberies whatever, so we can compare those images with the images we take when we arrest people. So when we arrest people, we arrest about a quarter of million people a year and everybody we arrest we take their fingerprints, their DNA and their photograph and what we need to be able to do is compare that photograph with the images we've got of people who commit crime.”

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?

2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise how many images are stored or used on it.

3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.

4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database transferred to the facial recognition system.

5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not from custody/arrested persons images.

6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.

Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)

7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used by the facial recognition system? (If not please advise how many are used and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)

8) Please advise how many of the quarter of a million people arrested each year are not found guilty of a crime.

9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition database?

10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other databases?

11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run. i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/ IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.

12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario? For example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.

13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial recognition system.

14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the Metropolitan Police? I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.

Some parts of this request may be easier to answer than others and in such case please could you release available data as soon as possible rather than delay the entire request.

If you are not fully certain of what it is I am asking then I look forward to contact from you as soon as possible to clarify what it is I am requesting in order to meet your obligations under the law.

If the costs of processing this request exceed the limit in the Act, please advise on what information you are able to supply within the cost limit.

I appreciate police forces are busy and I am grateful for your attention on this.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

To clarify question 8. Then question 9 and 10 would relate to that answer.

Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage) are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence.

Apologies for any ambiguities.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015030001071
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 12/03/2015.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015030001071

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 12/03/2015.  I note you seek
access to the following information:
Please ignore previous acknowledgement email as this did not contain your
full request.
1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.
Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest
every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many of the quarter of a million people arrested each
year are not found guilty of a crime.
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.
14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the
Metropolitan Police?  I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been
done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively
identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those
arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.
Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.
Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015030001071
I write in connection with your redefined request for information which
was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 12/03/2015.  I
note you seek access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.
Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest
every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.
14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the
Metropolitan Police?  I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been
done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively
identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those
arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015030001071

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 12/03/2015.  I note you seek
access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.
Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest
every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.
14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the
Metropolitan Police?  I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been
done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively
identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those
arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.

I am sorry to inform you that we have not been able to complete our
response to your request by the date originally stated, as a result we
will not be able to respond within 20 working days.

I can now advise you that the amended date for a response is 08/05/2015.

May I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Please could you advise the reason for the delay in not replying to my Freedom of Information request until 8th May.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

Mail Delivery System,

This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

Paul.O\'[email address]
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host mail4.met.police.uk [212.74.97.212]: 501 badly formatted RCPT TO user <Paul.O\'[email address]> - got char 0x5C

show quoted sections

Pippa King left an annotation ()

16/4/15 - Sent to the MET Police via their website: http://www.met.police.uk/information/met...

For the attention of Paul O'Shea, Information Manager,

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/d...

I sent an email via the What Do They Know website which seems to have not been delivered. With regards to the the above response to my Freedom of Information request please could you advise the reason for the delay from the 14th April until the 8th May.

I would very much appreciate the information I have requested before that date and would be grateful if you are able to do so.

Yours sincerely,
Pippa King

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015030001071

I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 12/03/2015.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.
Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest
every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.
14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the
Metropolitan Police?  I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been
done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively
identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those
arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.

This email is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to
your request within the cost threshold.  For question 14 we would have to
search through thousands of records to see how many people have been
positively identified, and of these we would have hundreds of records to
search through to find out if they have been arrested, and of those
arrested we would have to read through a free text field for each record
to find out if there was a conviction for each arrest. We estimate that
the cost of complying with this request would exceed the appropriate
limit. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for
agencies outside central Government; this is set at £450.00.   This
represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a rate
of £25 per hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the information, and
locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act), this
email acts as a Refusal Notice.

Section 17(5) of the Act provides:

(5) A public authority which, in relation to any request for information,
is relying on a claim that section 12 or 14 applies must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that
fact.

Section 12(1) of the Act provides:

(1) Section 1 does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request
for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with
the request would exceed the appropriate limit.

Section 16 of the Act provides:

I would like to provide you with advice as to how you may narrow your
request so that it does not exceed the appropriate limit.

We may be able to answer questions 1-13 subject to any exemptions that may
apply.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
me, quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Mr O'Shea

Thank you for your response.

"I would like to provide you with advice as to how you may narrow your request so that it does not exceed the appropriate limit.
We may be able to answer questions 1-13 subject to any exemptions that may apply."

I would be grateful for the Metropolitan Police to answer what they are able to within the limits of the Act as per your statement above.

I would express surprise that Q14 cannot be answered. It would be logical that a sophisticated system, that processes members of the public's personal (biometric) and sensitive data, would be able to analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of success through the process of electronic reporting. Especially when a system using facial recognition technology is new. If false positives and false negatives may happen, the manner in which this would impact on the liberties of the members of the public it affects should be considered and it is concerning if such a system is employed, and the effectiveness is not evaluated (return on investment), that the privacy impacts on the public are not assessed.

I would then respectfully request if you could please advise if I need to direct this question (14) at the Home Office or could you clarify that the Metropolitan Police do carry out such evaluation but that in this instance, as you stated in your earlier response, it too expensive to answer in this Freedom of Information request.

I appreciated police forces are busy and I do appreciate your time in this.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

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show quoted sections

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015040001645
I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 24/04/2015.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
 to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the
Police National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other
system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy. Out of
the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest. 13) Please advise when
the Metropolitan Police started using the facial recognition system.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

James Young
SC&O Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I sent the initial Freedom of Information request on the 12th March, this Freedom of Information request is now overdue. Please reply by return with the information I have requested as per our correspondance or conduct an internal review as to why this Freedom of Information request has not been answered.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015040001996

I write in connection with your request for a review of the original MPS
decision relating to 2015030001071 which was received by the Metropolitan
Police Service (MPS) on 29/04/2015.  

Your request for a review will now be considered in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response to
your request for a review of the original MPS case within a timescale of
20 working days.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve
this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of
complaint.

Yours sincerely

David Edwards
Public Access Office
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 700

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015040001645

I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 24/04/2015.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
 to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the
Police National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other
system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy. Out of
the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system..

This email is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to
your request within the cost threshold.  

Regarding questions 8a & 8b, the MPS would have to take the names of every
person who has an image on the database, then cross reference that with
the MPS Crime Reporting Information Sysytem to determine which of the
photographs retained on the Facial Recognition System relate to people who
have been arrested but not charged with an offence, then potentially cross
reference these with hard copy files.  

In relation to  those people who were charged with, but not convicted of,
an offence it would be necessary for the MPS to take the names of every
person who has an image on the database, then cross reference that with
the MPS Crime Reporting Information Sysytem to determine which of the
photographs retained on the Facial Recognition System relate to people
that were proceeded against.  Then that list of names would have to be
checked against the Police National Computer to determine what the
judicial outcome was.  In some cases court documents would have to be
requested from Courts and searched for relevent information.

Performing these searches would be a significant activity and it would
massively exceed the cost threshold to just answer one of these questions.

We estimate that the cost of complying with this request would exceed the
appropriate limit. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations
and for agencies outside central Government; this is set at £450.00.  
This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a
rate of £25 per hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the
information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act), this
email acts as a Refusal Notice.

Section 17(5) of the Act provides:

(5) A public authority which, in relation to any request for information,
is relying on a claim that section 12 or 14 applies must, within the time
for complying with section 1(1), give the applicant a notice stating that
fact.

Section 12(1) of the Act provides:

(1) Section 1 does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request
for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with
the request would exceed the appropriate limit.

Section 16 of the Act provides:

(1) It shall be the duty of a public authority to provide advice and
assistance, so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do
so, to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information
to it.

(2) Any public authority which, in relation to the provision of advice or
assistance in any case, conforms with the code of practice under section
45 is to be taken to comply with the duty imposed by subsection (1) in
relation to that case.

I would like to provide you with advice as to how you may narrow your
request so that it does not exceed the appropriate limit.

It should be possible to provide information relating to questions 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 subject to any exemptions which might
apply.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

James Young
SC&O Information Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms. King

Freedom of Information procedural complaint Reference No: 2015040001996

I write in connection with your correspondence dated 29 April 2015
concerning the delay to your Freedom of information request to the
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) under reference 2015030001071. Please
find below a full response to your procedural complaint.

First request - 12th March 2015 (ref: 2015030001071)

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy.
Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest
every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.
14) How successful has the facial recognition system been to the
Metropolitan Police?  I.e. how many facial recognition searches have been
done, how many people has it positively identified, of people positively
identified how many of these people have been arrested, how many of those
arrested resulted in a criminal conviction.

MPS delay letter - 14th April 2015

I am sorry to inform you that we have not been able to complete our
response to your request by the date originally stated, as a result we
will not be able to respond within 20 working days.

I can now advise you that the amended date for a response is 08/05/2015.

MPS Response to first request Summary - sent 24th April 2015

This email is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to
your request within the cost threshold.  For question 14 we would have to
search through thousands of records to see how many people have been
positively identified, and of these we would have hundreds of records to
search through to find out if they have been arrested, and of those
arrested we would have to read through a free text field for each record
to find out if there was a conviction for each arrest. We estimate that
the cost of complying with this request would exceed the appropriate
limit. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for
agencies outside central Government; this is set at £450.00.   This
represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a rate
of £25 per hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the information, and
locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act), this
email acts as a Refusal Notice.

Section 16 of the Act provides:

I would like to provide you with advice as to how you may narrow your
request so that it does not exceed the appropriate limit.

We may be able to answer questions 1-13 subject to any exemptions that may
apply.

Second Request - 24th April 2015 (Ref: 2015040001645)

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
 to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the
Police National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other
system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy. Out of
the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
8) Please advise how many images on the database (number and percentage)
are of :
a) people arrested but not charged with an offence.
b) people charged with, but not convicted of, an offence
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.

Procedural Complaint

I sent the initial Freedom of Information request on the 12th March, this
Freedom of Information request is now overdue.  Please reply by return
with the information I have requested as per our correspondance or conduct
an internal review as to why this Freedom of Information request has not
been answered.

DECISION

·        The review acknowledges the delay to you receiving a response to
your first request (2015030001071) received on 12th March 2015.  

·        The review found no procedural delays in regards to your second
request (2015040001645) received on 24th April 2015.

·        Further reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA)
can be found by way of this link
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...

Reason for decision  

The review takes note of your comment in your correspondence ‘I sent the
initial Freedom of Information request on the 12th March, this Freedom of
Information request is now overdue.’ In this regard the review can advise
you that the statutory time limit for responding to a request under the
FoIA is set out in Section 10(1) which states that a public authority must
comply with section 1 (1) promptly and in any event not later than the
twentieth working day following the date of receipt.  Therefore, a public
authority must inform the applicant in writing whether it holds the
information requested and if so, communicate that information to the
applicant, promptly, but not later than 20 working days after receipt of
the request.

Your first request for information, dealt with under reference
2015030001071, was received by the MPS on the 12th March 2015 and
therefore a response should have been sent by the 13th April 2015, but was
not sent until the 24th April 2015.

The review takes note of the letter sent to you on the 14th April 2015 by
the Information Manager dealing with your first request namely ‘I am sorry
to inform you that we have not been able to complete our response to your
request by the date originally stated, as a result we will not be able to
respond within 20 working days. I can now advise you that the amended
date for a response is 08/05/2015.’

Despite this letter the review can confirm that, in this instance a
failure to respond to your request within the time limit is a breach of
section 10(1) of the FoIA and apologises for any inconvenience in that
case.

The review would like to point out that once a public authority has issued
a Refusal Notice under section 17(5) FoIA, as in this case, because it
would exceed the appropriate threshold to respond to your request by
virtue of section 12(1). Any subsequent ‘narrowed’ request is then treated
as a ‘new’ request for information.  This means that the statutory time
for compliance commences on the date of the receipt of that new request.
 This view is supported by the Information Commissioner’s Office guidance
which states ‘The Commissioner considers that the implication of the
original estimate remaining valid is that the refined request becomes a
new request. This means that the statutory time for compliance commences
on the date of the receipt of that new request…However, public authorities
should note that the original and refined/new requests should not be
aggregated for the purposes of calculating the costs of dealing with the
new request as to do so would frustrate the purposes behind sections 12
and 16.’
https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

Your narrowed (second) request was received by the MPS on the 24th April
2015 and therefore the 20th working day following date of receipt is the
26th May 2015.  

The review is aware that since requesting a review, a response has been
sent by the MPS on the 30th April 2015 in regards to this second request.
Therefore the review found no procedural errors in regards to your second
request dealt with under reference 2015040001645.

Should you be dissatisfied with the MPS response to your request, once
received, you would still be entitled to request an internal review in
relation to the decision. If you are dissatisfied with this FoIA
procedural review, you have the right to appeal the decision by contacting
the Information Commissioner (www.ico.org.uk) for a decision on whether
the request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the
requirements of the FoIA.

Yours sincerely

M Lyng
FOIA Policy, Research & Review  

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 700

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk
Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Pippa King left an annotation ()

I have received an internal review and am still waiting for the information but there was not the appropriate field to tag for the status of this request.
Information requested, less Q8a Q8b and Q14, due not later than 22nd May from the Met Police.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),
Att: M Lyng

Thank you for the internal review which I have forwarded to the ICO for their consideration.
I look forward to receiving the information the Met Police can supply with reference to my original questions Ref:2015030001071 dated 12th March and same the questions, less Q14 Q8a and Q8b Ref:2015040001645 you considered a new request on 24th April as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Pippa King

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms. King

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2015050000306
I write in connection with your request for information dated 07/05/2015
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 07/05/2015.
 I note you seek access to the following information:

* 1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system
specific  to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police
using the Police National Database facial recognition system, or both
or any other system?
*  2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please
advise how many images are stored or used on it.
* 3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
* 4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
* 5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are
not from custody/arrested persons images.
* 6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy
impact assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a
copy. Out of the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police
arrest every year; (answer in percentages if easier)
* 7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year
used by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many
are used and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
* 9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
* 10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken
off the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases?
* 11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.
 i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/
IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
* 12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?
 For example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public;
images are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification
of an individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running
through CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
* 13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the
facial recognition system.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act).  You will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
to a third party.  In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline.  If this is likely you will be informed and
given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your
right of complaint.

Yours sincerely

FoIA Team
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think
the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision
of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS
to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days
from the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied
with the decision you may make application to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has
been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.
 Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms. King, I can confirm receipt of your narrowed request as of todays date (7th May 2015). As explained in my review this will now be treated as a new request for information and the 20th working day is 5th June 2015. Your most recent request has now been logged and will be dealt with under reference 2015050000306.

I hope this now clarifies the matter for you.

Regards

M. Lyng
FOIA Policy, Research & Review  

show quoted sections

Pippa King left an annotation ()

I have received an internal review and am still waiting for the information I requested on 12th March 2015 but there was not the appropriate field to tag for the status of this request.
Information requested, less Q8a Q8b and Q14, due not later than 5th June 2015 from the Met Police for original questions asked 12th March, with no additional information requested from myself since 12th March 2015.

The ICO have been informed of the, yet another, new classification of my 12th March Freedom of information request Ref: 2015050000306.

Pippa King left an annotation ()

ICO are sending a decision notice to the Metropolitan Police.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No:  2015050000306

I respond in connection with your request for information which was
received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 07/05/2015.  I note
you seek access to the following information:

1) Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific
 to the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the
Police National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other
system?
2) If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise
how many images are stored or used on it.
3) Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.
4) Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police
database images or are images from Metropolitan Police database
transferred to the facial recognition system.
5) Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.
6) Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy. Out of
the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)
7) Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used
by the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)
9) Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?
10) How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off
the Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other
databases? 11) Please advise how and where the facial recognition system
is run.  i.e. through custody suite images, access to private or public
CCTV/ IPTV, body worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.
12) Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.
13) Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
within the MPS.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located records relevant to your request.

DECISION

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
 I will answer your questions in turn.

At question 1 you asked:

Does the Metropolitan Police have a facial recognition system specific to
the Metropolitan Police or are the Metropolitan Police using the Police
National Database facial recognition system, or both or any other system?

The MPS response is:

The MPS has a bespoke facial recognition system called the "Facial
Recognition System (FRS)."

At question 2 you asked:

If the database is specific to the Metropolitan Police please advise how
many images are stored or used on it.

The MPS response is:

The MPS FRS stores in excess of 2.9 million images.
 
At question 3 you asked:

Please advise the manufacturer/company that supplied the facial
recognition system the Metropolitan Police are using.

The MPS response is:

L1 Identity Solutions IBIS Face Examiner

At question 4 you asked:

Does the facial recognition system access the Metropolitan Police database
images or are images from Metropolitan Police database transferred to the
facial recognition system.

The MPS response is:

Images from MPS sytems are transferred to the FRS.

At question 5 you asked:

Are images stored or kept on the facial recognition system that are not
from custody/arrested persons images.

The MPS response is:

No

At question 6 you asked:

Please advise if the Metropolitan Police carried out a privacy impact
assessment for this facial recognition system and provide a copy. Out of
the quarter of a million people the Metropolitan Police arrest every year;
(answer in percentages if easier)

The MPS response is:

Privacy impact assessments did not exist as a requirement at the point of
going live, therefore this information is not held.

At question 7 you asked:

Are all images of a quarter of a million people arrested each year used by
the facial recognition system?  (If not please advise how many are used
and reasons for inclusion/exclusion)

The MPS response is:

All frontal images captured by the MPS when an individual is arrested can
be transferred and added to the FRS to be searched against.

At question 9 you asked:

Are these innocent people’s images used with the facial recognition
database?

The MPS response is:

Please see the answer to the above question.

At question 10 you asked:

How long are innocent people’s images stored before being taken off the
Metropolitan Police’s facial recognition database or any other databases?

The MPS response is:

All custody images are kept indefinately unless they are removed under the
Early Deletion process.

At question 11 you asked:

Please advise how and where the facial recognition system is run.  i.e.
through custody suite images, access to private or public CCTV/ IPTV, body
worn cameras, police evidence gatherers, etc.

The MPS response is:

Access to the FRS is strictly controlled.  It is a reactive system, not
proactive.  Images are uploaded to the system then searches are performed.

At question 12 you asked:

Can the facial recognition system be run in a real time scenario?  For
example, a police officer is using a worn video device in public; images
are relayed to the facial recognition system and identification of an
individual made and conveyed to the police officer, or running through
CCTV/IPTV cameras to identify persons of interest.

The MPS response is:

No.  As stated above the FRS is a reactive system.

At question 13 you asked:

Please advise when the Metropolitan Police started using the facial
recognition system.

The MPS response is:

2009

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please email
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

James Young
Information Manager
In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law.  Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome to discuss the
response with the case officer who dealt with your request.  

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing, within forty (40) working days from
the date of the refusal notice, and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF
[email address]

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 20 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.ico.org.uk.  Alternatively, phone or
write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone:  01625 545 745

Total Policing is the Met's commitment to be on the streets and in your
communities to catch offenders, prevent crime and support victims. We are
here for London, working with you to make our capital safer.

 

Consider our environment - please do not print this email unless
absolutely necessary.

NOTICE - This email and any attachments may be confidential, subject to
copyright and/or legal privilege and are intended solely for the use of
the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender and delete it from your system.  To avoid incurring
legal liabilities, you must not distribute or copy the information in this
email without the permission of the sender. MPS communication systems are
monitored to the extent permitted by law.  Consequently, any email and/or
attachments may be read by monitoring staff. Only specified personnel are
authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of the MPS by
email. The MPS accepts no responsibility for unauthorised agreements
reached with other employees or agents.  The security of this email and
any attachments cannot be guaranteed. Email messages are routinely scanned
but malicious software infection and corruption of content can still occur
during transmission over the Internet. Any views or opinions expressed in
this communication are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).

 

Find us at:

Facebook: Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

Twitter: @metpoliceuk

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Att: Mr James Young,

Request Reference No: 2015050000306

Thank you for your response to my Freedom of Information request. I just have one query with reference to your response to Q3 'IBIS Face Examiner ' - Should that read ABIS rather than IBIS?

Many thanks,

Pippa King

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Ms King,

Apologies - you are correct, it should have read ABIS not IBIS.

Yours sincerely

James Young
Information Manager

show quoted sections