Facial recognition plans
Dear Durham Constabulary,
Please provide answers to the following:
1. Does Durham Constabulary have any plans to introduce facial recognition?
2. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.
3. Does Durham Constabulary have any plans to introduce retrospective facial recognition?
4. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.
Yours faithfully,
Elena Miucci
We acknowledge receipt of your email.
Your request will now be considered under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and 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 Durham Constabulary 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.
Kind regards,
Freedom of information Team
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Good afternoon,
In response to the request below please see the attached response sent out earlier in 2022. The information given in the attached response has not changed.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Decision Maker (7558)
Digital Data and Technology Command
Durham Constabulary
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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....
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....