Facial Recognition Cameras Installed in Croydon

Auckland is trialing body cameras for parking officers to enhance their safety against aggression, with 41 incidents reported in six months. Meanwhile, the UK's first permanent live facial recognition (LFR) cameras are being installed in Croydon for crime detection, sparking privacy concerns among activists. These cameras will only activate when officers are present, and data of non-matches is immediately deleted. Despite assurances from the Met Police about safeguarding privacy, groups like Big Brother Watch criticize the measure as authoritarian. The Met emphasizes the technology's role in capturing dangerous criminals, citing past successful arrests with LFR use. This marks a significant step in law enforcement's integration of biometric technology for public safety, amidst ongoing debates about privacy and civil liberties.