Facial recognition expansion anchors UK policing reforms driven by AI

UK authorities have unveiled a major policing reform programme that places AI and facial recognition at the centre of future law enforcement strategy. The plans include expanding the use of Live Facial Recognition and creating a national hub to scale AI tools across police forces.

The Home Office will fund 40 new facial recognition vans for town centres across England and Wales, significantly increasing real-time biometric surveillance capacity. Officials say the rollout responds to crime that increasingly involves digital activity.

The UK government will also invest £115 million over three years into a National Centre for AI in Policing, known as Police.AI. The centre will focus on speeding investigations, reducing paperwork and improving crime detection.

New governance measures will regulate police use of facial recognition and introduce a public register of deployed AI systems. National data standards aim to strengthen accountability and coordination across forces.

Structural reforms include creating a National Police Service to tackle serious crime and terrorism. Predictive analytics, deepfake detection and digital forensics will play a larger operational role.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!