{"id":448763,"date":"2025-07-19T19:57:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T18:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=448763"},"modified":"2025-07-19T19:57:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T18:57:57","slug":"are-live-facial-recognition-cameras-working-for-the-police-in-south-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/south-london\/are-live-facial-recognition-cameras-working-for-the-police-in-south-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Are live facial recognition cameras working for the police in South London?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The Met Police\u00a0is now turning to data-driven methods to track down offenders and make better use of officers\u2019 time. Chief among these tools is live facial recognition (LFR), with fixed cameras being installed in Croydon for the first time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Live facial recognition has already been used in several London boroughs, including during the King\u2019s Coronation in 2023. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>LFR scans faces in real time and checks them against a police watchlist. If there\u2019s a match, officers can step in immediately for questioning and a potential arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"myDX7V0hKTNE40mF6gJZaWaytqz6hCO1oFHMnIPu5UQkR4BONgAp2wPeMBSTfLjsElUjX91Y8bccrlAJu3IVWwpiKGszvdDCt73\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5yf65ZjTWS\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/sex-offender-caught-in-denmark-hill-thanks-to-facial-recognition-cameras\/\">Sex offender caught in Denmark Hill thanks to facial recognition cameras<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Sex offender caught in Denmark Hill thanks to facial recognition cameras&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/sex-offender-caught-in-denmark-hill-thanks-to-facial-recognition-cameras\/embed\/#?secret=zvV5k2IMCc#?secret=5yf65ZjTWS\" data-secret=\"5yf65ZjTWS\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Croydon was chosen for the fixed-camera pilot due to \u201cprevious success\u201d and an assessment of local risk.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDI2ODUyODA1NCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The Local Democracy Reporting (LDRS) took to the streets of Croydon to see how the pilot is going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The summer heat always brings Croydon town centre to life. Market traders joke with shoppers, office workers hunt for sunny lunch spots, and children pester their parents for a go on the fairground rides temporarily set up along North End.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTQyODkyNDk3MyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they create a lively atmosphere that contrasts with the negative image often associated with the high street. But some say the mood changes noticeably as the sun sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s OK in the morning, we can manage with two staff members,\u201d says Mohammed Kamzi, owner of U Fone. \u201cAfter 4pm, it\u2019s different. We need three or four people working because someone has to be ready to chase thieves while another watches the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe see crime here all the time. Just two days ago, someone stopped outside our shop for drugs, and people swarmed around them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mohammed has worked on North End for four years, a time he says has seen rising crime and waning police visibility. He told the LDRS that the street is a hotspot for gangs, wanted criminals, and people skipping court appearances.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjUxNDc5MDYzOCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year, LFR cameras were sporadically deployed on mobile vans on North End. In March, the Met announced it would go further by installing fixed facial recognition cameras on North End and London Road.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-747x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-448768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-747x560.jpg 747w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-373x280.jpg 373w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-195x146.jpg 195w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Van-with-facial-recognition-1140x855.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Van with facial recognition cameras in Lewisham on March 26, 2024. CREDIT: Robert Firth<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>These will look like regular CCTV cameras but will only be switched on when the technology is in use. Despite this move towards fixed surveillance, the use of LFR has so far met with a mixed reaction from locals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mohammed sees the benefit in terms of safety but admits some customers aren\u2019t comfortable with it. He told the LDRS: \u201cIt\u2019s good for safety, especially with all the stabbings and gangs in Croydon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut lots of customers aren\u2019t happy about being watched. They feel anxious, like they\u2019ve done something wrong, even if it\u2019s just for a fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shane Barrett, a local resident, believes the technology could help, but questions its placement. He said: \u201cCroydon\u2019s getting worse, there are stabbings every other week. The cameras might help, but the stabbings happen on side streets and around Surrey Street, not North End.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shopper Helen Matthews said she wanted more clarity from the police. \u201cI can see it being useful, but we don\u2019t know how it works or when it\u2019ll be used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last Friday (July 4), the Met celebrated its 1,000th arrest using LFR. Among those arrested were 93 registered sex offenders and several others in breach of court orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lindsey Chiswick, who leads the Met\u2019s facial recognition programme, said: \u201cThis technology is making London safer by removing dangerous offenders. It\u2019s saving officers valuable time and delivering quicker, more accurate results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, some civil liberties groups remain deeply concerned. Madeleine Stone, a Senior Advocacy Officer at Big Brother Watch, says the scale of surveillance is alarming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She said: \u201cThere will be biometric cameras fixed throughout Croydon, which will have a chilling and dystopian effect on the high street. This is Chinese-style surveillance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ms Stone also criticised police for stopping people who turn away from the cameras and try to seek an alternate route. \u201cYou\u2019re meant to have the option to avoid them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She argued that the technology may not actually save officers time, since police still need to be nearby to act on matches. \u201cI\u2019m sure Londoners would rather see more officers on the streets than these cameras,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So far this year, LFR has scanned 1.5 million faces in London, leading to 459 arrests \u2013 roughly one for every 3,300 scans. More than half of the Met\u2019s so-called \u201ctrue matches\u201d did not result in an arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Charlie Whelton, Policy and Campaigns Officer at human rights group Liberty, said the technology is being used without proper legal oversight. \u201cIt\u2019s a regulatory wild west,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the Met mostly uses LFR to catch serious criminals, Mr Whelton warned there\u2019s nothing stopping police from using it on victims or people linked to crimes. Currently, LFR operates under a patchwork of legal rulings, with no unified legislation guiding its use nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome forces use it responsibly, others don\u2019t,\u201d he told the LDRS. \u201cRight now, it subjects people to a digital strip search that goes far beyond traditional policing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LFR misidentification has also raised concerns, particularly around race. Some say high-profile mistakes, like the misidentification of anti-knife crime campaigner Sean Thompson, show the technology still has flaws and may disproportionately affect minority communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On November 13, 2024, Policing Minister Diana Johnson said facial recognition was a powerful policing tool but acknowledged the need to balance safety with privacy. The government is expected to publish a draft white paper on LFR next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, Croydon\u2019s own political leaders have largely backed the use of LFR in the town centre. Croydon Council said it supports LFR in town centres to \u201cidentify suspects on a watchlist\u201d and tackle violent crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mayor Jason Perry also regularly cites the number of serious offenders taken off the street as proof of LFR\u2019s success. Last year, he told the LDRS: \u201cIf you\u2019ve got nothing to hide, you\u2019ve got nothing to fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"996\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-996x560.jpeg\" alt=\"mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners\" class=\"wp-image-448138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-996x560.jpeg 996w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-498x280.jpeg 498w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-260x146.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-1320x743.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-750x422.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners-1140x641.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/448137-mayor-says-croydon-is-not-failing-as-council-debates-possible-future-under-government-commissioners.jpeg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Mayor Jason Perry <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Croydon South MP and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed that view, saying: \u201cThis technology means wanted criminals can\u2019t roam around town and city centres without being caught.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"756\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-756x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-434291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-756x560.jpg 756w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-378x280.jpg 378w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-768x569.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-1536x1137.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-2048x1516.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-1320x977.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-750x555.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chris-Philp-1140x844.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Shadow home secretary Chris Philp MP, speaking at the launch of City Hall Conservatives\\&#8217; new report. Credit: Noah Vickers\/Local Democracy Reporting Service<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Labour\u2019s Croydon mayoral candidate Rowenna Davis also gave her cautious support. \u201cI was initially suspicious,\u201d she said. \u201cBut the number of violent and sexual offenders caught has convinced me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-840x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-440735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-840x560.jpg 840w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-1320x880.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Natasha-Irons-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Credit: Natasha Irons MP<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>She added: \u201cDo I like the idea of being watched? Not really. But the priority has to be making our streets safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, Green councillors Ria Patel and Esther Sutton, whose Fairfield ward will host some of the cameras, remain strongly opposed. Back in March, Cllr Patel said: \u201cEver since this announcement, my inbox has been flooded with messages from local residents concerned about this attack on their privacy and possible consequences for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Met insists it has strict safeguards in place. It says biometric data is permanently deleted if someone isn\u2019t on the watchlist. It added that independent testing by the National Physical Laboratory found the system to be accurate and showed no significant bias based on race or gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fixed cameras aren\u2019t yet operational and will be attached to street furniture. No official start date has been confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-747x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-448767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-747x560.jpg 747w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-373x280.jpg 373w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-195x146.jpg 195w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police-1140x855.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CROYDON-Met-police.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Met believes the use of facial recognition cameras will free up officer time, meaning they will be able to spend more time in the public eye Credit: Harrison Galliven<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A Met spokesperson added: \u201cWe\u2019re committed to making London safer by using technology to target the most dangerous offenders. This has helped us take hundreds of violent individuals off the streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe continue to engage with the public to explain how the technology works and to reassure people that strong privacy protections are in place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"45g3afLDNcd7FAuqrlWSL1fZ98FobyrYvk7QSsGXtNjmABOVIRtKHKXExci9UBM0ZWdl2CwV63Gz0ngRiYU1k5uD\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"bTmqefsvpz\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/elephant-and-castle\/elephant-and-castle-named-as-one-of-londons-top-20-crime-hotspots-by-met-police\/\">Elephant and Castle named as one of London&#8217;s top 20 crime hotspots by Met Police<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Elephant and Castle named as one of London&#8217;s top 20 crime hotspots by Met Police&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/elephant-and-castle\/elephant-and-castle-named-as-one-of-londons-top-20-crime-hotspots-by-met-police\/embed\/#?secret=7bkqmmq7L3#?secret=bTmqefsvpz\" data-secret=\"bTmqefsvpz\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Met Police\u00a0is now turning to data-driven methods to track down offenders and make better use of officers\u2019 time. Chief among these tools is live facial recognition (LFR), with fixed cameras being installed in Croydon for the first time. Live facial recognition has already been used in several London boroughs, including during the King\u2019s Coronation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19312,"featured_media":448766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"\u201cIf you\u2019ve got nothing to hide, you\u2019ve got nothing to fear,\" says Mayor of Croydon"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"9635"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[13541,17613,13539,13602,9635],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-448763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","category-croydon","category-featured","category-news","category-south-london"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=448763"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448763\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/448766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=448763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=448763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=448763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}