Use of Automated Facial Recognition

The request was successful.

Dear South Wales Police,

Please provide the following:

1) The lawful basis on which South Wales Police were relying for the use of Automated Facial Recognition at the BBC Biggest Weekend event held in Swansea on May 26th, 2018 (hereafter referred to as 'the event').

2) A statement of the purposes for which South Wales Police were using Automated Facial Recognition at the event.

3) Any other purposes for which personal data, including biometric data, collected by the Automated Facial Recognition system at the event was processed at or subsequent to the event, as well as the legal basis for processing pursuant to those other purposes.

4) Information on for how long personal data, including biometric data, processed by the Automated Facial Recognition system used at the event will be stored.

5) Information describing the technical and organisational measures established to ensure the security of any personal data, including biometric data, collected, stored, or otherwise processed by the Automated Recognition System at the event.

5) Aggregate figures for the number of people whose faces were scanned using Automated Facial Recognition at the event.

6) Aggregate figures for the number of arrests made as a result of the use of Automated Facial Recognition at the event.

7) Information relating to the accuracy of the Automated Facial Recognition system used at the event, including information relating to any testing process undertaken by South Wales Police to establish the level of accuracy of that system.

8) A copy of the policy document, if any, which was in place for South Wales Police as of May 26, 2018. By "policy document" I refer to an "appropriate policy document" as described in section 42 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Cobbe

South Wales Police

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information Team (FOI) at South
Wales Police.  This message is to confirm that we have received your
correspondence. Please do not reply to this email.

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

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Dear South Wales Police,

By law, you should have responded to this FOI request within 20 working days - that is, by the end of yesterday (June 25th). You are now breaking the law.

As a result, I will be making a complaint to the Information Commissioner.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Cobbe

South Wales Police

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information Team (FOI) at South
Wales Police.  This message is to confirm that we have received your
correspondence. Please do not reply to this email.

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

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South Wales Police

Dear Ms Cobbe,

Please accept our apologies for the delay in sending out your response.

We are currently in the process of dealing with you request and will endeavour to get a response to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Vicky Griffiths

Swyddog Ymchwil ac Ansawdd Data| Research and Data Quality Officer

Rheolwr Rheoli Data a Datgeliadau | Data Management and Disclosure Unit

Pencadlys Heddlu De Cymru | South Wales Police Headquarters

: 01656 303444

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Dear South Wales Police,

Thanks. Can you give me an estimate on when the information might be ready?

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer Cobbe

South Wales Police

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information Team (FOI) at South
Wales Police.  This message is to confirm that we have received your
correspondence. Please do not reply to this email.

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

show quoted sections

South Wales Police

Dear Ms Cobbe,

Unfortunately, due to the increased workloads and staff shortages we are unable to give an estimated time on when the information may be ready.

We have gone to the relevant department who are currently in the process of retrieving the information requested.

We will do our best to get a response to you as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

Kind regards,

Vicky Griffiths

Swyddog Ymchwil ac Ansawdd Data| Research and Data Quality Officer

Rheolwr Rheoli Data a Datgeliadau | Data Management and Disclosure Unit

Pencadlys Heddlu De Cymru | South Wales Police Headquarters

: 01656 303444

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South Wales Police

2 Attachments

Dear Ms Cobbe,

      

Your request for information has now been considered and our response is
attached.

                          

I trust that this information answers your request. Should you have any
queries and wish to contact us by e-mail, please do so using the mail box
[1][South Wales Police request email]. (Please do not reply directly to my own
e-mail address as this may result in a delay to your request).

                              

South Wales Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of
your case under its review procedure (copy attached). If you decide to
request such a review and having followed the Force’s full process you are
still dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give it consideration.

 

Kind Regards,

Freedom of Information Team

Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu

South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu

Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen

Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr

CF31 3SU

DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444

E-mail/E-bost: [2][email address]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda'r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101 Gellir defnyddio'r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw'n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don't require an emergency response?
Call 101 The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

Mae Heddlu De Cymru yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg a Saesneg.
Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd
gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

South Wales Police welcomes receiving correspondence in Welsh and English.
Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and
corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

show quoted sections

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...

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

Updated 16 February 2023

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

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'

The Guardian (15/2/23):

'British police are leaving themselves open to spying by Beijing because of their reliance on Chinese-made cameras, according to a report from the government’s independent watchdog on surveillance.'

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/f...

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

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