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Facial Recognition

Emmanuelle Andrews made this Freedom of Information request to Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

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Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I write to request information and records under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), regarding the use of facial recognition technology.

Questions 1-6 relate to the period January 2022-January 2023.

1. Has the Metropolitan Police deployed live facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

2. Has the Metropolitan Police used any form of retrospective facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide the dates and locations at which the images or footage was obtained.

3. Has the Metropolitan police deployed operator initiated facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

4. Has the Metropolitan Police deployed any type of facial recognition in conjunction with body-worn video?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

5. Where live facial recognition has been used:
a. How many images were on the watch list used in each instance?
b. From where were these images taken?
c. How many of those on the watch list were not wanted for arrest in each instance?
i. For what other reasons were these people included?

6. At each deployment, how many alerts were generated?
a. How many times did police officers consider the match sufficiently credible to stop individuals and perform an identity check?
b. Following an identity check, how many stops were verified as correct matches?

Questions 7-10 relate to the period from February 2023 onwards.

7. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy live facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned deployment.

8. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to use retrospective facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned deployment.

9. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy operator initiated facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned deployment.

10. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy any type of facial recognition in conjunction with body-worn video?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned deployment.

If to provide this information would trigger the cost exemption, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will refine our request. If this request is unclear, we would be grateful if you could contact us as we understand that under FOIA, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct us to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.

We understand that you may redact exempted information in documents, but we ask that you show where redactions have been made and give the justification. We also kindly remind you that the time taken for redactions does not usually contribute towards the cost cap under FOIA.

We look forward to your response within 20 working days, i.e. by 13th March 2023.

Emmanuelle Andrews

26-30 Strutton Ground, London

Thank you for your email to the Metropolitan Police Service Data Office.

Please note the Data Office Triage Team operate Monday to Friday only.
This department is closed during bank holidays.

We receive a very high volume of requests that we endeavour to respond to
as quickly as possible, we respectfully ask you to bear with us while we
respond to all the emails received prior to yours. You will receive a
response in due course.

Please note that our response may come from the email address
[1][email address]. To ensure that our
responses are not sent to your spam folder, please add
[2][email address] to your safe senders list.
Thank you.

The following types of applications are processed by this department:

• [3]Right of Access Requests (Formerly Subject Access Requests)

• [4]Freedom of Information Act Requests

• [5]Association of British Insurers/NPCC Memorandum of Understanding
Requests

• [6]Right to Erasure and Right to Rectification Requests

• [7]Requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2000

Insurance requests in line with ABI/LMA membership: whilst we are
reviewing the ABI/NPPC Data Sharing Guidance v2.2, we will not be
processing requests under this MOU without consent from the Data
Subject/Insured. To submit a valid request to our office, you can utilise
the former Appendix D(a) or (b) form or provide a signed letter of
authority dated within six months from the Data Subject/Insured alongside
your Appendix D(a) mandate (new form) until this matter has been reviewed
for clarity.

IF YOUR ENQUIRY RELATES TO SOMETHING ELSE:- please visit
[8]www.met.police.uk or the quick links provided below to redirect your
request to the appropriate unit for consideration. The below requests and
any others outside the parameters outlined above do not fall within our
remit. You may experience a significant wait time for a response whilst we
prioritise our legislative work therefore, it is advisable you redirect
your request to the appropriate department.

1. [9]Road traffic collision requests
2. [10]Sarah’s Law – Registered sex offender data
3. [11]Clare’s Law – Domestic violence offender data
4. [12]Disclosure for family court proceedings
5. [13]Third party disclosures for family court proceedings
6. [14]The Publication Scheme (published FOI responses)
7. [15]Legal Aid requests
8. [16]MPS Contact Us – to reach an officer, another unit, the local
Borough Command Unit/Police station or other.
9. [17]Complaints

Validation of reports: please note, requests to validate crime reference
numbers or limited particulars will not be dealt with by this department
without the appropriate application documents and consent from the Data
Subject. If we receive such a request we will file these emails away
without sending out a response. You should send your enquiry to the
appropriate unit via [18]MPS Contact Us
NOTICE - This email and any attachments are solely for the intended
recipient and may be confidential. If you have received this email in
error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system. Do not
use, copy or disclose the information contained in this email or in any
attachment without the permission of the sender. Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) communication systems are monitored to the extent permitted
by law and any email and/or attachments may be read by monitoring staff.
Only specified personnel are authorised to conclude binding agreements on
behalf of the MPS by email and no responsibility is accepted for
unauthorised agreements reached with other personnel. While reasonable
precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this
email, its security and that of any attachments cannot be guaranteed.

References

J Roberts left an annotation (13 February 2023)

Anyone interested in Facial Recognition might also be interested in this:

Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material Annual Report - January 2021 – March 2022

And

Surveillance Camera Commissioner Annual Report March 2021 – March 2022

February 2023

'84. More worrying is the reported use of images of people who, while having been arrested, have never subsequently been charged or summonsed, for comparison against Live Facial Recognition ‘reads‘ and watchlists. As I record in Part 2 of this report, the use of facial recognition technology by the police has become one of the most contentious areas of biometric surveillance, not just in the UK but globally.

Part 2 – Facial Recognition and AI

96. The objective of the event was to gain a better understanding of how facial recognition technology is perceived by society in a policing and law enforcement context. Speaking at the event were the Forensic Science Regulator, a senior lecturer from Sheffield University and representatives from the Biometrics Institute, the Information Commissioner’s Office, South Wales Police, and Big Brother Watch.

Appendix F: Facial recognition and AI'

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...

Initial analysis of the 2022 police survey returns
Published 14 November 2022

Is your force operating Facial Recognition Technology?

'Only one force stated that it was using LFR (from the list supplied). Six had access to PND and two of those to CAID. One other mentioned access to Athena.'

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Live facial recognition technology guidance
published 22/3/22

https://www.college.police.uk/article/li...

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's response to the College of Policing APP on Live Facial Recognition - 6/4/22

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-b...

Chief Constables’ Council

Title: National Biometrics Function and National Facial Recognition Project - 30/9/21

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/8...

Who's Watching You? Report by Big Brother Watch - 7/2/22

https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-conten...

'Police forces were reluctant to answer questions about any advanced capabilities, while some refused to say if they used Chinese brands at all'

Fact Sheet on live facial recognition used by police Home Office 2019

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov....

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

Email: [1][The Met request email]

[2]www.met.police.uk

Your ref:
Our ref: 01/FOI/23/028737

15/02/2023

Dear Emmanuelle Andrews

Freedom of Information Act 2000 Acknowledgement -
Reference: 01/FOI/23/028737

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 13/02/2023. I note you seek
access to the following information:

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I write to request information and records under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA), regarding the use of facial recognition
technology.

Questions 1-6 relate to the period January 2022-January 2023.

1. Has the Metropolitan Police deployed live facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

2. Has the Metropolitan Police used any form of retrospective facial
recognition?
a. If so, please provide the dates and locations at which the images
or footage was obtained.

3. Has the Metropolitan police deployed operator initiated facial
recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

4. Has the Metropolitan Police deployed any type of facial
recognition in conjunction with body-worn video?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each deployment.

5.      Where live facial recognition has been used:
a.      How many images were on the watch list used in each instance?
b.      From where were these images taken?
c.      How many of those on the watch list were not wanted for arrest in
each instance?
i.      For what other reasons were these people included?

6.      At each deployment, how many alerts were generated?
a.      How many times did police officers consider the match sufficiently
credible to stop individuals and perform an identity check?
b.      Following an identity check, how many stops were verified as
correct matches?

Questions 7-10 relate to the period from February 2023 onwards.

7. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy live facial
recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned
deployment.

8. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to use retrospective facial
recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned
deployment.

9. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy operator initiated
facial recognition?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned
deployment.

10. Does the Metropolitan Police plan to deploy any type of facial
recognition in conjunction with body-worn video?
a. If so, please provide dates and locations for each known planned
deployment.

If to provide this information would trigger the cost exemption, please
let us know as soon as possible, and we will refine our request. If this
request is unclear, we would be grateful if you could contact us as we
understand that under FOIA, you are required to advise and assist
requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain,
please can you direct us to it, with page references and URLs if
necessary.

We understand that you may redact exempted information in documents, but
we ask that you show where redactions have been made and give the
justification. We also kindly remind you that the time taken for
redactions does not usually contribute towards the cost cap under FOIA.

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.

Due to an increase in the volume of work received by the Data Office we
regret to inform you that we have fallen behind in our processing and are
experiencing delays.

We can assure you we are working as fast as we can to process your request
and we are looking into ways to increase our staffing to accommodate the
increase of work received by the MPS.

If you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please contact
us at [3][The Met request email], quoting the reference number above. Should
your enquiry relate to the logging or allocations process we will be able
to assist you directly and where your enquiry relates to other matters
(such as the status of the request) we will be able to pass on a message
and/or advise you of the relevant contact details.

Yours sincerely

Data Office Triage Team

Information Rights Unit

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

Information Rights Unit

PO Box 313

Sidcup

DA15 0HH

[4][The Met request email]

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, write to or
phone:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

MP02/22 OFFICIAL SENSITIVE

When responding, please ensure you reply
to [5][email address] only.

Kind regards,

On behalf of

Data Office - Triage Team

Information Rights Unit

Metropolitan Police Service

PO Box 313, Sidcup, DA15 0HH

📧 [6][email address]

NOTICE - This email and any attachments are solely for the intended
recipient and may be confidential. If you have received this email in
error, please notify the sender and delete it from your system. Do not
use, copy or disclose the information contained in this email or in any
attachment without the permission of the sender. Metropolitan Police
Service (MPS) communication systems are monitored to the extent permitted
by law and any email and/or attachments may be read by monitoring staff.
Only specified personnel are authorised to conclude binding agreements on
behalf of the MPS by email and no responsibility is accepted for
unauthorised agreements reached with other personnel. While reasonable
precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this
email, its security and that of any attachments cannot be guaranteed.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[The Met request email]
2. http://www.met.police.uk/
3. mailto:[The Met request email]
4. mailto:[The Met request email]
5. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Please note that we have not received a response to our FOI request within the legal timeframe. Please could you let us know as soon as possible when we can expect to receive a response.

Yours faithfully,
Emmanuelle Andrews

Thank you for your email to the Metropolitan Police Service Data Office.

Please note the Data Office Triage Team operate Monday to Friday only.
This department is closed during bank holidays.

The following types of applications are processed by this department:

• [3]Right of Access Requests (Formerly Subject Access Requests)

• [4]Freedom of Information Act Requests

• [5]Association of British Insurers/NPCC Memorandum of Understanding
Requests

• [6]Right to Erasure and Right to Rectification Requests

• [7]Requests under the Environmental Information Regulations 2000

Insurance requests in line with ABI membership: our review of the ABI/NPPC
Data Sharing Guidance v2.2 is complete. From 1^st April 2023, we will
proceed with applications under this agreement as set out in the Data
Sharing Guidance. The applications that have been on hold pending our
review will be processed accordingly and in date order of receipt. Please
await our response in due course whilst our dedicated team work through
the applications received thus far.

Valid applications received prior to 1^st April 2023 will be charged the
2022/23 financial year fees. Valid applications received from 1^st April
2023 will be subject to the 2023/24 financial year fees. For more
information, please visit: [8]https://www.npcc.police.uk/publications/

Furthermore, we will not accept any of the old appendix D(a), D(b) or E
forms from 1^st April 2023.

Requests from MIB or parties acting on their behalf are not completed by
our unit. Please direct your enquiries to the local Basic Command Unit
(via post or [9]MPS Contact Us).

IF YOUR ENQUIRY RELATES TO SOMETHING ELSE:- please visit
[10]www.met.police.uk or the quick links provided below to redirect your
request to the appropriate unit for consideration. The below requests and
any others outside the parameters outlined above do not fall within our
remit. You may experience a significant wait time for a response whilst we
prioritise our legislative work therefore, it is advisable you redirect
your request to the appropriate department.

I.[11]Road traffic collision requests

II.[12]Sarah’s Law – Registered sex offender data

III.[13]Clare’s Law – Domestic violence offender data

IV.[14]Disclosure for family court proceedings

V.[15]Third party disclosures for family court
proceedings

VI.[16]The Publication Scheme (published FOI responses)

VII.[17]Legal Aid requests

VIII.[18]MPS Contact Us – to reach an officer, another unit,
the local Borough Command Unit/Police station or other.

IX.[19]Complaints

References

J Roberts left an annotation ( 4 May 2023)

The Guardian 3/5/23:

Police accused over use of facial recognition at King Charles’s coronation

'Emmanuelle Andrews of the campaign group Liberty said: “The fact LFR is being used at the coronation is extremely worrying. LFR is a dystopian tool and dilutes all our rights and liberties.”'

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023...

Clearview - a company used by the police - fined more than £7.5m in respect of its database that matches facial images - May '22

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

Biometrics Commissioner - 16/2/23

The use of overt surveillance camera systems in public places by police forces in England and Wales: An assessment of compliance with the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice

'8. Not all respondents have completed data protection impact assessments for all the technology under discussion in this survey. This is a concern, particularly given the government’s position that much of the work currently undertaken by the Surveillance Camera Commissioner is a data protection issue, and already falls under the remit of the ICO notwithstanding any legislative proposals to abolished (sic) the Surveillance Camera Code by the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.'

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material Annual Report - January 2021 – March 2022

And

Surveillance Camera Commissioner Annual Report March 2021 – March 2022

February 2023

'84. More worrying is the reported use of images of people who, while having been arrested, have never subsequently been charged or summonsed, for comparison against Live Facial Recognition ‘reads‘ and watchlists. As I record in Part 2 of this report, the use of facial recognition technology by the police has become one of the most contentious areas of biometric surveillance, not just in the UK but globally.

Part 2 – Facial Recognition and AI

96. The objective of the event was to gain a better understanding of how facial recognition technology is perceived by society in a policing and law enforcement context. Speaking at the event were the Forensic Science Regulator, a senior lecturer from Sheffield University and representatives from the Biometrics Institute, the Information Commissioner’s Office, South Wales Police, and Big Brother Watch.

Appendix F: Facial recognition and AI'

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...

Initial analysis of the 2022 police survey returns
Published 14 November 2022

Is your force operating Facial Recognition Technology?

'Only one force stated that it was using LFR (from the list supplied). Six had access to PND and two of those to CAID. One other mentioned access to Athena.'

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Live facial recognition technology guidance published
22/3/22

https://www.college.police.uk/article/li...

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's response to the College of Policing APP on Live Facial Recognition - 6/4/22

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-b...

Chief Constables’ Council

Title: National Biometrics Function and National Facial Recognition Project - 30/9/21

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/8...

Who's Watching You? Report by Big Brother Watch - 7/2/22

https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-conten...

'Police forces were reluctant to answer questions about any advanced capabilities, while some refused to say if they used Chinese brands at all'

Biometrics Commissioner - 15/2/23

UK policing 'shot through' with Chinese surveillance technology

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-po...

Update (21/3/23)

'We note that the survey returns gave the impression that 2 forces were using Hikvision body worn cameras. However, subsequent enquiries have shown that to be incorrect. Consequently, the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner can report that none of the forces who replied to the survey used body worn cameras manufactured by Hikvision.'

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-po...

'A Mail on Sunday investigation discovered CCTV cameras – which have also been banned by the US military amid concerns they could be used to send vital data back to Beijing's spies – at numerous military sites, including barracks for elite troops who guard the King.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

Fact Sheet on live facial recognition used by police Home Office 2019

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov....

West Midlands Police trialling live-stream body-cams

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

Baross Goldie 'answered' this question from Lord Alton of Liverpool:

UIN HL5880

'To ask His Majesty's Government why CCTV cameras made by Hikvision and Dahua have not yet been removed from UK army bases, following the direction to do so by the Ministry of Defence in November 2021.'

https://questions-statements.parliament....

Dear E Andrews

Apologies for the delay to your FOI request, I am currently going through a back log and hope to get a response out to you soon.

Kind regards

Paul O'Shea
Information Manager
Information Rights Unit
Data Office
Metropolitan Police Service

Telephone: Mobile:
Email: [email address]
Core location: Hendon

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Official

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

Email: [1][The Met request email]

[2]www.met.police.uk

Your ref:
Our ref: 01/FOI/23/028737

19/06/2023

Dear E Andrews

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/23/028737

Please see the attached in respect of your Freedom of Information request
referenced above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea

Official

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[The Met request email]
2. http://www.met.police.uk/

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Thank you for your response. Please could you provide the information requested for questions 1-6 subject to any exemptions that may apply except for Q2.

Yours faithfully,
Emmanuelle Andrews

2022 IRU CST FOI ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 01 FOI 23 031597.pdf

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Good morning Ms Andrews,

Our ref: 01/FOI/23/031597

Thank you for your e-mail and please see the attached acknowledgement letter in respect of your new request.

When responding, please ensure you reply to [email address] only.

Kind regards,

Data Office Triage Team
Information Rights Unit
Data Office
Metropolitan Police Service
PO Box 313, Sidcup, DA15 0HH
📧 [email address]

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Letterhead

Information Rights Unit
PO Box 313
Sidcup
DA15 0HH

Email: [1][The Met request email]

[2]www.met.police.uk

Your ref:
Our ref: 01/FOI/23/031597

20/09/2023

Dear E Andrews

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/23/031597

Please see the attached in respect of your Freedom of Information request
referenced above.

Yours sincerely

Paul O'Shea

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[The Met request email]
2. http://www.met.police.uk/

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Emmanuelle Andrews please sign in and let everyone know.

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Facial Recognition

J Roberts left an annotation (13 February 2023)

J Roberts left an annotation ( 4 May 2023)

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