Full Breakdown
Cambridgeshire Police Deploy Live Facial Recognition in Peterborough
5/13/2026, 8:39:39 PM
Deployment Overview
On 16 May 2024, Cambridgeshire Police activated live facial recognition (LFR) cameras in Peterborough city centre, the first use of LFR in the county. The system scans live video and matches faces against a watch list of individuals with outstanding warrants, high-risk offenders and suspects, generating officer-reviewed alerts.
Context and Partnerships
Cambridgeshire borrowed the LFR kit from Bedfordshire Police, part of a 2023 rollout to seven forces. Assistant Chief Constable John Massey leads the project; Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston publicly endorsed it. The watch list includes suspects for offences, individuals with court-issued warrants, and high-risk offenders subject to notification requirements.
Operational Details
The watch list includes (1) suspects for offences, (2) individuals with court-issued warrants, and (3) high-risk offenders subject to notification requirements. Flagged images are kept for up to 24 hours; non-matches are deleted immediately. Signage with QR codes links the public to the force’s website.
Official Statements & Responses
Cambridgeshire Police say LFR “supports policing by identifying wanted people, ensuring they are brought to justice swiftly” and adds “another tool in the drive to reduce crime and create a safer county.” Massey noted the technology, though new to Cambridgeshire, has been used across policing and security services and has outperformed its anticipated accuracy. Commissioner Preston called it “a remarkable opportunity in preventing and fighting crime.” Both acknowledge community questions and promise on-site officers to engage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Assistant Chief Constable John Massey said: “LFR supports policing by identifying wanted people, ensuring they are brought to justice swiftly.” — John Massey, Assistant Chief Constable, Cambridgeshire Police
- “It is another tool at our disposal in our drive to reduce crime and create a safer county.” — John Massey, Assistant Chief Constable, Cambridgeshire Police
- “We know the community will have a lot of questions about the use of advanced technology within policing, and officers will be on hand to engage with the community and answer any queries they may have.” — John Massey, Assistant Chief Constable, Cambridgeshire Police
- “Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston said: “As the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' joint lead on forensics, I welcome the introduction of LFR in our county.” — Darryl Preston, Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridgeshire
Impact and Public Concerns
Police officials say the technology is intended to speed the capture of high-risk individuals and reduce crime. The force acknowledges community questions about the use of advanced technology and has instituted immediate-deletion of non-matches and public signage to address those concerns.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources do not provide an independent audit of LFR accuracy, the size of the watch list, or false-positive rates, and they omit details on oversight mechanisms.
What’s Next
Cambridgeshire Police plan to roll LFR out to Fenland after the Peterborough trial, with continued community outreach, updated signage and periodic performance reviews posted on the force website.
