Met Police deploy live facial recognition cameras in Islington

The Metropolitan Police have started using live facial recognition cameras in Islington, beginning on 10 August 2026. The cameras are deployed in areas identified as crime hotspots, where they scan the faces of people passing through. The images are compared in real time to a watchlist of individuals wanted by police.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the technology is used to prevent and detect crime, locate wanted criminals, safeguard vulnerable people, and protect the public from harm. The force did not specify which locations in Islington are being monitored, nor the size of the watchlist.

How the technology works

Live facial recognition directs cameras at a defined area. As people move through that space, their faces are captured and analysed. The system compares these images to a police watchlist, which includes individuals wanted for crimes or considered at risk. If a match is found, officers are alerted to investigate further.

The Metropolitan Police also use retrospective facial recognition. This involves analysing images after an incident, such as CCTV footage, and matching them against police databases to support investigations. This method does not operate in real time.

Policy under review

The policy governing the use of live facial recognition is currently under annual review. The Metropolitan Police expect to publish updated documents by March 2026. The existing policy and related materials are available on the force’s website, though it is unclear what changes the review may introduce.

The deployment in Islington follows previous use of the technology in other London boroughs. The Metropolitan Police have not disclosed whether similar operations are planned for additional areas in the near future.

What happens next

The Metropolitan Police will continue to operate live facial recognition cameras in Islington as part of their ongoing crime prevention efforts. Residents can expect the technology to remain in use until at least March 2026, when the current policy review is due to conclude. No formal consultation with the public has been announced.