Facial Recognition Plans for Avon and Somerset Police

Elena Miucci made this Freedom of Information request to Avon and Somerset Constabulary This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request is waiting for clarification. If you are Elena Miucci, please sign in to send a follow up message.

Elena Miucci
Delivered

Dear Avon and Somerset Constabulary,

Please provide answers to the following:

1. Does Avon and Somerset Police have any plans to introduce facial recognition?
2. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.
3. Does Avon and Somerset Police have any plans to introduce retrospective facial recognition?
4. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.

Yours faithfully,

Elena Miucci

Link to this Report
#Freedom of Information Requests, Avon and Somerset Constabulary

 

 

Legal Services Directorate

Force Headquarters, PO Box 37, Valley Road,

Portishead, Bristol, BS20 8QJ

Facsimile 01275 814667

    

  Our 505/22
Reference
Elena Miucci    
Date 27 May
[FOI #857891 email] 2022

 

 

Dear Elena Miucci

 

Thank you for your request which I have copied below. In order for us to
provide you with the information you require some clarification is
necessary.

 

1. Does Avon and Somerset Police have any plans to introduce facial
recognition?

2. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.

3. Does Avon and Somerset Police have any plans to introduce retrospective
facial recognition?

4. If so, please provide all information relating to those plans.

 

In order for us to respond accurately, I require you to clarify what
particular information you are seeking. Therefore, please can you specify
the type of facial recognition you are referring to in question 1. This
link relating to [1]Facial Recognition provides a good explanation.

 

I will be unable to continue to process your request until I have received
your clarification. If your clarification is not received within 20
working days this request will be closed.

Yours sincerely,

 

Becky Berridge

Freedom of Information Officer

 

Legal Services Directorate.  |  Avon and Somerset Police

[2]www.avonandsomerset.police.uk  |  Follow us on [3]Twitter and
[4]Facebook

 

 

Please note;

1.     Requests and responses may be published on Avon and Somerset
Constabulary’s website (within 24 hours), some of which may contain a link
to additional information, which may provide you with further
clarification.

2.     Whilst we may verbally discuss your request with you in order to
seek clarification, all other communication should be made in writing.

3.     Avon and Somerset Constabulary provides you with the right to
request a re-examination of your case under its review procedure.

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Link to this Report

J Roberts left an annotation ()

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....

Link to this Report