For the second year running, a police force at the British Grand Prix will deploy facial recognition technology.
Approximately 480,000 people are anticipated to attend the event on July 4–7, and Northamptonshire Police will employ technology to help prevent criminal conduct at the event.
Northamptonshire Police deployed the program for the first time at the 2023 Silverstone event.
“We can never afford to become complacent because every year brings new challenges,” stated Det Supt Richard Tompkins.
The method by which the technology compares biometrics of people on a watch list is by employing a camera to scan faces.
To “clearly” identify the areas where live facial recognition is being used, signs and QR codes will be posted.
According to Mr. Tompkins, he did not want criminals to attend the function.
“If you are wanted in Northamptonshire… in surrounding counties, or indeed if we have information that you may be coming to commit crime as part of an organised gang, we will load your image up.”
However, human verifications like fingerprinting will also occur if someone is identified by technology, which is why Mr. Tompkins said there are “slim” chances of someone being mistakenly identified.
Prior worries
Judges on the Court of Appeal determined in 2020 that a South Wales Police trial project that involved scanning thousands of faces was illegal.
