Rationale for not using facial recognition at Unite the Kingdom protest

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.25.047415

I note you seek access to the following information:

I was interested and puzzled to read in the London Evening Standard on the 13 September 2025 that live facial recognition was not deployed at the Freedom of Speech/Unite the Kingdom rally in London on the 13 September 2025. Yet the same software was used at the Notting Hill Carnival less than a month before.

This is to me and others appears to be once again a disproportionate use of police assets when it comes to Black events and marches.

It would be good to understand the police rationale why the use of live facial recognition was not used at the rally on Saturday 13 September. It is an event that may have detected potential criminals and perpetrators of other crimes, yet it was thought to be a sufficient response to a public and well attended event celebrating Black Caribbean heritage.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Facial Recognition Technology was not deployed during the rally UTK because there was no intelligence to suggest individuals would cause a threat to public safety. As per LFR policy published on the MPS website, in a protective security operation linked to an event, LFR would be used primarily in order to locate people the police are looking for and who have been placed on a relevant watchlist in accordance with the principles set out in the policy which can be found on our website below. Please note the link will need to be copy and pasted into your web browser to work.

Live Facial Recognition - Policy.pdf