Live Facial Recognition Vans Deployed in Yorkshire Police Operations
West Yorkshire Police began deploying Live Facial Recognition vans in Leeds city centre, scanning faces in real time against a police watchlist. Civil liberties groups raised concerns that the technology subjects all people to identity checking regardless of suspicion, potentially violating presumption of innocence rights.
What happened
West Yorkshire Police deployed two Live Facial Recognition vans to Briggate in Leeds city centre on 11 November 2025, marking the first use of the technology in Yorkshire. The technology scans faces in real time and compares them to an authorised watchlist of individuals of legitimate interest, including missing persons, key witnesses and suspected victims of some crimes.
The vans will be deployed in carefully selected authorised locations across West Yorkshire. Police stated that faces matching the watchlist will create an alert, while data relating to all other faces scanned will be instantly deleted.
Reported impact
Civil liberties groups expressed concern that the technology subjects people to identity checking even if not suspected of any wrongdoing, constituting a reversal of the presumption of innocence. Legal and policy officer Jasleen Chaggar at Big Brother Watch noted that watchlists include not only suspected offenders but also victims of crimes and witnesses, who could be stopped and pulled over by police during their daily lives.
Index analysis
The technology works by measuring key facial features such as the width of a nose, the distance between eyes, and cheekbone shape, then comparing these with faces on a police watchlist. West Yorkshire Police stated the deployment would assist officers in locating dangerous individuals, safeguarding the public, and supporting victims of crime.
Governance controls
West Yorkshire Police stated it worked with legal and ethical experts to ensure LFR complies with data protection and human rights laws. The force said the technology will only be used where there is a clear policing purpose and need, will always be accompanied by clear signage and oversight, and will not be used for mass surveillance or indiscriminate monitoring.
Independent oversight and regular reviews were committed to ensure responsible and effective use. Chief Inspector Daniel Tillett stated the force is committed to engaging with local communities to explain how LFR works.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.