British Transport Police have begun a six‑month trial of Live Facial Recognition technology, with the first deployment taking place this afternoon at London Bridge railway station on Wednesday 11 February.
The launch follows an announcement made in November, marking the start of an extensive pilot aimed at improving public safety across the rail network.
The operation forms part of BTP’s wider commitment to adopting innovative technologies to identify and apprehend individuals wanted for serious criminal offences. Dates and locations of all upcoming LFR deployments will be published online in advance, ensuring public awareness and transparency.
BTP currently uses NEC’s NeoFace M40 algorithm, which scans faces in real time and compares them against a watchlist of individuals wanted by police or courts, or those subject to court orders with conditions. When the system identifies a possible match, an alert is generated and passed to an officer, who then verifies the match and decides whether further engagement or action is necessary.
Passengers who choose not to enter the recognition area will be offered alternative routes to avoid the cameras. The force emphasises that individuals not included on a watchlist cannot be identified through the system. Images linked to alerts are deleted immediately after use or within 24 hours, while data from non‑alerting individuals is automatically deleted in real time.
Each LFR deployment undergoes a full health and safety assessment to ensure that equipment, officer duties, and public‑facing areas are managed safely. The trial follows months of research, planning and collaboration between BTP, Network Rail, the Department for Transport, and the Rail Delivery Group, all working to test how well the technology performs specifically in a busy railway environment.
Policing the UK rail network presents a unique challenge, with more than three million passenger journeys made every day. Deployments will therefore be intelligence‑led, targeting stations and concourses where data indicates a higher likelihood of high‑harm offenders passing through.
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, the senior officer overseeing the project at British Transport Police, said:
“The project team have spent a significant amount of time working closely with partners including Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group to get us to this stage.
“I want to reiterate that this is a trial of the technology to assess how it performs in a railway setting. The initiative follows a significant amount of research and planning, and forms part of BTP’s commitment to using innovative technology to make the railways a hostile place for individuals wanted for serious criminal offences, helping us keep the public safe.
“The cameras work by scanning faces and comparing them to a watchlist of offenders wanted for serious offences. If there’s a match, then the system generates an alert. An officer will review it and carry out further checks to determine if the person is a suspect and if they need to take further action.
“People who prefer not to enter the recognition zone will have alternative routes available and images of anyone not on the authorised database will be deleted immediately and permanently.
“We want to make the trial as effective as it can be and we welcome your feedback. You can scan the QR codes on the posters and tell us your thoughts.”
BTP is encouraging public feedback on the trial, with posters displayed around deployment areas containing QR codes linking to online surveys. Officers will explain their reasons for speaking to individuals flagged by the system and will provide informational leaflets with further contact details. Meanwhile, CCTV footage captured by LFR‑linked cameras will be retained for 31 days in line with operational procedure.
The force hopes that the trial will support safer railway environments while maintaining clear accountability and respect for privacy. As the six‑month pilot continues, BTP will monitor system performance, accuracy, and public response before determining next steps.
Image credit: iStock
