Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Lancashire Police is to launch the use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR), helping prevent and detect crime, while protecting the most vulnerable in our county.
The first deployment is to take place in Blackpool on Friday, September 4, ahead of and during the Illuminations Switch On show.
The technology is seen as a vital tool to help quickly identify and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to our communities.
Ch Supt Chris Hardy, of Lancashire Police, said: “LFR compares faces captured on a live camera feed against a predetermined, secure watchlist of individuals wanted for serious offences, subject to court orders, or who pose a risk to the public or to themselves.
“When the system identifies a possible match, a police officer will compare the image on screen with the person in view and decide whether to speak to them. This decision will always be made by an officer, not the technology.
“Officers will always explain why they have engaged with someone and provide an information leaflet with contact details.
“I want to be clear with people – we take your privacy very seriously - if you are not on a watchlist we will never store your biometric data from passing through the LFR zone of recognition. It is immediately and automatically deleted, ensuring privacy is protected.
“Any further images are deleted within 24 hours after each day of deployment and CCTV footage is deleted within 31 days, the same as standard public cameras.”
LFR has been successfully used by the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police since 2017 and is being trialled at several forces including Merseyside, GMP, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex and Bedfordshire.
Independent oversight and regular reviews will ensure the technology is used responsibly and proportionately. All deployments will be targeted, intelligence-led and within a refined geographical area.
Ch Supt Hardy added: “Before this technology is deployed in the community, strict checks are in place to ensure its use is both necessary and proportionate.
“LFR has already proven successful in other police forces, and we’re building on their experience to ensure it delivers the same positive results here in Lancashire.
“We will engage heavily with our communities about when we use LFR. You should expect to see information about where our deployments will take place, including online before it is used, our website where the results are published of when LFR is used, information leaflets for the public, as well as posters and signs to include QR codes to make people aware LFR is being used and where they can go to find further information.”
For further information, including FAQs, visit our Live Facial Recognition page: Live Facial Recognition LFR | Lancashire Constabulary