Live facial recognition technology has been deployed for the first time in Basingstoke today (Thursday, September 12), as part of a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary operation aimed at identifying and apprehending criminals.

The cutting-edge technology is being trialled in Portsmouth, Southampton, Basingstoke, and Winchester.

In Basingstoke the vans were positioned from 8.30am on the Top of Town and near The Malls shopping centre, close to the railway station.

The facial recognition vans, brought in from South Wales Police under a mutual aid agreement, are designed to target individuals wanted on warrants, those evading court proceedings, and high-risk missing persons.

(Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Police to use facial recognition technology in Basingstoke

The technology creates a biometric facial template from faces seen in the live video footage of crowds passing a camera and compares it against the biometric template of images in the list.

Welsh officers were present at Basingstoke locations to support Hampshire police during the deployment.

Sergeant Rhodri William from Heddlu, overseeing operations in front of the railway station, spoke to the Gazette, reassuring residents about privacy concerns.

He said that biometric images captured are automatically deleted if they do not match any watchlist entry.

Heddlu's PC Matt Seage, overseeing operations at Top of Town, explained that the technology was developed by South Wales Police after five years of research.

“We’re now happy to help other forces,” PC Seage said.

According to police, any facial template that does not cause an alert is automatically and immediately deleted. Watchlist images and their biometric templates are erased within 24 hours after each day’s deployment.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo previously said: “It is really important that police forces use every aspect of technology available to appropriately take criminals off the street and keep the public safe.

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“Facial recognition can significantly help our officers by quickly scanning crowds to identify those on the watchlist, freeing up their time to focus on responding to emergencies, spending time patrolling within their communities and investigating crime.

“I’d like to reassure people that any alerts are verified by the operator and a police officer will conduct any enquiries with anyone who is matched. The officer will decide what action needs to be taken, in the same way that any other policing operation is conducted.

“Having access to technology alongside our traditional policing tactics means we are using everything at our disposal to keep the public safe, protect vulnerable people and bring offenders to justice.”