Best Practice Guidance 'Facing the Camera' on Police Use of Live Facial Recognition
Summary
The UK Surveillance Camera Commissioner has issued best practice guidance titled 'Facing the Camera' for police forces in England and Wales on the lawful deployment of Live Facial Recognition technology. This is the first guidance issued since the Court of Appeal overturned South Wales Police's use of LFR in the Bridges v South Wales Police case. The guidance helps forces understand how to deploy LFR in compliance with current legal requirements while balancing civil liberties.
What changed
The Surveillance Camera Commissioner has released 'Facing the Camera', the first UK guidance on police use of Live Facial Recognition since the Court of Appeal's 2020 judgment in Bridges v South Wales Police. The guidance addresses how police forces should approach LFR deployment to ensure it is lawful, necessary, and proportionate. It responds directly to the Court of Appeal's finding that previous South Wales Police use of LFR was not in accordance with the law.
For police forces considering LFR deployment, this guidance establishes best practice expectations for compliance with the current legal framework. Forces must now consider proportionality, necessity, and transparency requirements before deploying this intrusive technology. The SCC supports legitimate police use of surveillance technology including LFR where it meets legal thresholds and is balanced against civil liberties.
What to do next
- Review the 'Facing the Camera' guidance before deploying Live Facial Recognition technology
- Ensure LFR deployments are proportionate and comply with current legal framework
- Maintain transparency of LFR use to preserve public trust and confidence
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News story
Surveillance Camera Commissioner releases guidance for police on use of Live Facial Recognition
The guidance is for forces to follow when considering the deployment of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) surveillance camera technology.
From: Surveillance Camera Commissioner Published 3 December 2020
Tony Porter, Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC), has issued best practice guidance, ‘Facing the Camera’, to all police forces in England and Wales.
It is the first guidance to be released since the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment on Bridges v South Wales Police (PDF, 743 KB) earlier this year – the SCC was an intervener in the case and a key contributor.
The High Court ruled that South Wales Police’s use of LFR was in accordance with the law, but this was later overturned by the Court of Appeal.
The SCC is the independent regulator of the overt use and public operation of surveillance camera systems by the police in England and Wales. This includes systems incorporating LFR. He supports the police having legitimate recourse to surveillance camera systems including LFR where they are necessary to keep us safe and secure, within the clear provisions of the law. Transparency of lawful use is essential to public trust and confidence in such matters.
Tony Porter said:
Over the 7 years I have been Commissioner I have continually said that the police should be able to use technology to keep us safe and secure but this must be balanced against our civil liberties and the law.
The High Court ruled that South Wales Police’s use of LFR was in accordance with the law, but this was later overturned by the Court of Appeal.
The guidance I’ve issued today will help forces who want to use LFR identify how to do so in accordance with the current legal framework.
Where there is a proportionate need to deploy intrusive technology, it is right that the police have the guidance to do that – Facing the Camera will go some way to help them before decisions are made to deploy.
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Published 3 December 2020
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