Devon and Cornwall Police use live facial recognition at Boardmasters Festival
Devon and Cornwall Police deployed live facial recognition technology at the Boardmasters Festival in Newquay for the first time, scanning attendee faces against a watchlist of suspects and known criminals. The police stated that faces not matching the watchlist were automatically deleted within seconds and that the technology was deployed transparently with public signage.
What happened
Devon and Cornwall Police deployed live facial recognition technology in Newquay town centre from 6 to 8 August 2026, coinciding with the Boardmasters Festival, which expected to draw 50,000 attendees across three days.
A marked van positioned in Killacourt town centre, manned by six officers, scanned faces of passers-by and compared them against a 'watch list' of thousands of known criminals, suspects, people with sexual harm prevention orders, and those suspected of dealing drugs in the area.
Reported impact
According to the police force, anyone whose face did not match the watch list was automatically deleted within seconds, with no record kept afterward.
Index analysis
Matt Longman, Assistant Chief Constable, said the technology provided officers with an additional tool to help locate wanted people more quickly, prevent crime and keep communities safe.
Chief Inspector Peter Shabytah said the technology was deployed to support a specific policing purpose and was not something deployed 'willy-nilly', emphasizing concerns about drug dealers targeting young people at the festival.
Governance controls
The police force stated it was committed to being open about where the technology was used, when it was deployed, and the safeguards in place to ensure transparent and proportionate use.
Members of the public could see the marked van and the area was clearly signposted so people were aware of the operation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.