Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime has released the following statement regarding North Yorkshire Police's plans to begin using live facial recognition cameras:
The use of any new technology requires particular scrutiny and assurance as some members of the public may be concerned about implications in terms of civil liberties, safeguarding and the potential targeting of minority groups. I recognise those concerns and am seeking particular and ongoing assurances around this proposal from North Yorkshire in a number of areas. Notably:
- Data storage, access and sharing with particular regard to people’s civil liberties and the companies involved in the provision of the technology and whether they have any access to York and North Yorkshire information.
- Where and when it is anticipated the use of this technology in York and North Yorkshire might be useful, what the crime and antisocial behaviour picture is at those times and in those places at present and how it is proposed this technology would help.
- The role for the independent scrutiny process that is already in place to monitor the police use of body worn video, stop and search powers to ensure there can be proper oversight and assurance around proportionality of use and safeguarding that no particular groups are unnecessarily targeted.
- The legal premise for the proposals and whether this is proportionate to the challenges the police face keeping people safe in our region and when faced with organised, cross-border crime.
- I’m also mindful of people’s concerns about the possibility of “mission creep” and will seek assurance that the scope of any proposed deployment is proportionate to existing patterns of crime and antisocial behaviour the police have to deal with and will only be used in addition to the physical policing presence which is so important in providing reassurance to the public at major events.
- Whether there are any cost / savings implications for the police budget.
- Ensuring that responses to assurance questions are placed in the public domain.
The responses to these issues may not reassure everyone and I know that some people are opposed to any use of this kind of technology by the police under any circumstances. However, as crime evolves, it is right that the police explore new tools that may help keep people safe - provided this is done responsibly and with robust safeguards.
At the moment there are no specific proposals for the use of this technology but in other parts of the UK it has been used to police sporting fixtures for example, or other events where large numbers of people congregate.
Going forward I will also be seeking further assurances in my regular meetings with North Yorkshire Police and am also planning to ensure the concerns of the public are properly represented in my regular online public meetings with North Yorkshire Police. Anyone who has particular questions or concerns can feed those into these processes.