Premier League funds £3.42m facial recognition trial for London police

The Premier League is funding a £3.42 million trial of live facial recognition (LFR) technology to assist the Metropolitan Police in London. The funding, provided through Cheshire Constabulary, aims to support the deployment of LFR at top-flight football matches to enhance security and policing efficiency.

Under the trial, LFR cameras will monitor specific areas around match venues, comparing faces against police watchlists. These lists include individuals wanted for serious offenses and those subject to football banning orders. The initiative seeks to identify potential risks before individuals enter stadiums and to assist in identifying suspects related to serious crimes and violence against women and girls.

Each deployment must meet Metropolitan Police requirements regarding legality, necessity, and proportionality, and requires authorization from an officer of at least superintendent rank. Supporters must be notified when the technology is in use. The Metropolitan Police stated that biometric data for individuals who do not trigger a match is deleted immediately, and watchlists are erased within 24 hours of deployment.