London's West End To Be Blanketed With AI Facial Recognition Cameras

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed plans to deploy static live facial recognition cameras across the West End, including Soho and areas around major theatres and retail locations. Installation is targeted for the end of this year, with six additional areas scheduled for rollout in 2027. The fixed cameras, mounted on lampposts and street furniture, would operate continuously and could be repositioned based on changing crime patterns. During a six-month pilot in South London earlier this year, the force said the cameras scanned about 470,000 faces and led to more than 170 arrests, claiming only one false alert, while non-matches’ biometric data would be deleted immediately. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the technology a major advancement in policing and said about 80% of Londoners support its use. Police Minister Sarah Jones backed nationwide expansion, citing record investment, while privacy groups warned of “digital police lineups.” Big Brother Watch said Parliament should regulate the practice before expansion, and Liberty criticized permanent biometric surveillance.