The Metropolitan Police plans to expand its use of live facial recognition (LFR) cameras in central London. The force intends to deploy the technology first in the West End, including areas such as Soho, with installation targeted for by Christmas, according to reporting. The cameras are described as fixed units that could be attached to street furniture such as lamp posts.
In a further phase, the Met plans to extend LFR to additional parts of London next year, with plans covering six more areas. The proposals are framed by the police as a public-safety measure and part of a wider approach to crime prevention, but they also draw criticism. Critics argue the expansion would affect very large numbers of people passing through monitored areas, warning that it could create a “digital police lineup” effect.
Sources agree the expansion is staged: an initial rollout in the West End by Christmas, followed by a broader set of deployments in 2026–2027. The reporting also notes the debate around privacy and rights as the technology expands in a central, high-traffic part of the capital.
