Ten arrests in Croydon as police use live facial recognition
The LFR was used around the mainline train stations in Croydon, East and West Croydon.
As a result of 22 alerts by the LFR technology, ten people were arrested on suspicion of offences including threats to kill, recall to prison for robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
Eight people were also stopped who are subject to sexual prevention orders and officers were able to establish if they were complying with their conditions.
Four more people who had court imposed conditions were identified correctly and their condition checked.
There were no false alerts.
The technology scans faces of people passing through an area against a watchlist of people wanted by police, and sets off an alert when a match is made.
An officer will then review the match and decide if they wish to speak with the individual.
As part of the wider proactive operation, officers stopped and arrested a 24 year old man in North End for being in possession of a cross bow. Officers searched him and also recovered a pocket knife.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, in charge of policing Croydon said: “We have been in Croydon today speaking to local people and businesses within our community about yesterday’s LFR operation and are delighted to have their support.
“We understand their concerns about crime in the area and it is good to show the tactics we are using to reduce it.
“I hope this goes some way to reassure them we are committed to listening to them and taking action where we can.”
Lindsey Chiswick, responsible for LFR for the Met said: “Live Facial Recognition is a precise community-based crime fighting tool that helps us to be more focussed in our approach to tackling crime, including robbery and violence against women and girls.
“The results are impressive – the details of anyone who is not a match are immediately and automatically deleted.”
The breakdown of arrests are
- A 32-year-old man arrested for failing to appear at court in relation to shoplifting
- A 39-year-old man arrested for failing to appear at court in relation to theft
- A 54-year-old man wanted on recall to prison having breached his licence conditions in relation to a Robbery conviction
- A 41-year-old man wanted for domestic GBH, threats to kill, and an assault
- A 23-year-old man wanted for failing to appear at court in relation to a charge of possession of an offensive weapon
- A 47-year-old man wanted for failing to appear at court where he was facing charges in relation to counterfeit good
- A 46-year-old man wanted By Police in relation to a bank fraud
- A 51-year-old man wanted for failing to appear at court for theft
- A 45-year-old woman wanted for failing to appear at court in relation to theft
- A 24-year-old man arrested on two counts of possession of an offensive weapon