LfR technology used by this authority
Dear Northumberland County Council,
I'm writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to ask that you please disclose the details of any Live Facial Recognition Software (LfR / LFRT), retrospective facial recognition (RFR), or Automated Facial Recognition Software by yourselves, and whether it works in conjunction with either your local council or the local police force (as applicable per recipient of this request).
This includes bodycams, vehicular, or stationary cameras.
for police forces, I'd like to know in what circumstances this technology has been used, and in cases of arrests the amount of people scanned vs positives hits, and how many of these positive hits on potential criminals resulted in a correct match leading to arrest.
In the case of local councils, I'd like to know if the software used shared information with either local law enforcement, national agencies, or was used by council-based intelligence hubs. I'd like to know what information is typically garnered, how long it is held for, and whether this was announced publicly.
In case this information is withheld citing sections 23, 24, or 31, I'd instead like information of any work undertaken with or correspondence between you and the following companies: Neoface / NEC, Rekognition, AFR Locate, or Reveal, including cost and times undertaken.
I'm aware that at least 6 constabularies, including the Met, have trialled software and that this information is publicly available to an extent, but in the instance of national security exemptions would like to have the bare bones of the information, which I do not believe would impact this, such as a confirmation of trials, correspondence, or agreements and the names of the companies given, as a matter of public interest and without divulging further specifics.
Yours faithfully,
Max Colbert
The Citizens
Our Ref: 10055
Dear Mr Colbert,
INFORMATION REQUEST
Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
We can only provide the information that Northumberland County Council
holds. For any information regarding the Police, you will need to contact
Northumbria Police direct.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.
If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Kind regards
Julia
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF
Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
Dear Mr Colbert,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST
I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to Live Facial
Recognition Software (LfR / LFRT), retrospective facial recognition (RFR),
or Automated Facial Recognition Software.
Right of Access
Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.
(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and
(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.
The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.
The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.
Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the following information in response.
Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding earlier. The
request was coordinated between all areas within Northumberland County
Council. As we are still awaiting the information from Technical
Services, Neighbourhood Services and Housing, the
outstanding information has been logged as a new request and allocated to
just this one area (still as being received from the original date).
The final part of the response will be provided with the
reference number 10155.
Q.1 I'm writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to ask
that you please disclose the details of any Live Facial Recognition
Software (LfR / LFRT), retrospective facial recognition (RFR), or
Automated Facial Recognition Software by yourselves, and whether it works
in conjunction with either your local council or the local police force
(as applicable per recipient of this request).
This includes bodycams, vehicular, or stationary cameras.
In the case of local councils, I'd like to know if the software used
shared information with either local law enforcement, national agencies,
or was used by council-based intelligence hubs. I'd like to know what
information is typically garnered, how long it is held for, and whether
this was announced publicly.
A.1 We do not use Live Facial Recognition Software (LfR / LFRT),
retrospective facial recognition (RFR), or Automated Facial Recognition
Software.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2
months from the date of this response to the Information Governance
Office:
Information Governance Office, Northumberland County Council, County
Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Information Commissioner
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:
The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113, Email: [email address]
There is no charge for making an appeal.
Yours faithfully,
Julia
FOI Coordinator – Central Team
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF
Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: [1]http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
References
Visible links
1. http://track.vuelio.uk.com/z.z?l=aHR0cHM...
Our Ref: 10155
Dear Enquirer,
INFORMATION REQUEST
I refer to your request for Information in relation to Live Facial
Recognition Software.
You would have received a partial response under reference 10055. I can
confirm that Neighbourhood Services, Technical Services, Housing and
Health and Safety also does not use Live Facial Recognition Software (LfR
/ LFRT), retrospective facial recognition (RFR), or Automated Facial
Recognition Software.
Yours faithfully
FOI/EIR Coordinator - Local Services
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF
Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now