United KingdomPublic sector2025 – ongoingMetropolitan Police
Static live facial recognition cameras in Croydon
Metropolitan Police reported 173 arrests during Croydon's static facial recognition pilot
Problem
Live facial recognition deployments normally required specialist camera vans. Police wanted more flexibility in locating wanted people in Croydon.
Approach
Police mounted cameras on existing street infrastructure for a pilot from October 2025 to March 2026. Remote teams monitored feeds against operation-specific watchlists, with officers present to respond to alerts. The force said it would continue using the cameras.
Results
Takeaway
Fixed cameras still required staffed operations and checks on alerts. Arrest totals do not establish how much the cameras reduced crime.
Categories
- Size
- Large enterprise
- Industry
- Public sector
- Business function
- Production and quality
- Innovation type
- Process innovation
- AI technology
- Computer vision
- Adoption
- Vendor solution
- Evidence
- Company's own claim
Sources
Source summaries
The force reported 173 arrests and 1 false alert during the pilot. It explained that cameras were activated only during staffed deployments.
Full details are in the original sources.