Police watchdog calls for live facial recognition to tackle football disorder

The head of the Scottish police watchdog is calling for the introduction of live facial recognition technology and drones to help combat football-related disorder.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) Craig Naylor has used the publication of his annual report to highlight the need for better use of technology to help fight crime.

Naylor described recent football violence, like the disorder between Celtic and Rangers fans at Ibrox in March, as "a situation that cannot continue to be tolerated."

He also said the increasing violence in Scotland outside football grounds was likely to require more police deployments.

Naylor said: "Elements such as restricting the number of fans allowed to attend matches, banning orders with more rigor, requirements to use modern technologies such as facial recognition to prevent the attendance of banned individuals should all be explored and enacted to ensure that this behaviour is stopped."

Live facial recognition technology has been used by police forces at football matches in England.

But its deployment remains controversial amid concerns over privacy, civil liberties and the potential for errors in identification.

The technology has never been used by Police Scotland but the force has been engaged in a public consultation on its deployment.

The report comes after disorder at several games towards the end of last season's Scottish Premiership.

This Included high-profile matches between Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Cup in March and the title decider between Celtic and Hearts in May.

Later that day two police officers were seriously injured and 14 arrests were made during trouble in Glasgow city centre as Celtic supporters celebrated the club's Premiership win.

Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: "We have a duty to use new technologies to safeguard our communities.

"New technologies can offer transformative opportunities for modern policing, through supporting investigations and identification.

"We want people to recognise both the value of new technologies and be confident that Police Scotland has the right governance and the right measures in place, and that consideration and implementation of new technologies reflects our commitment to human rights, ethical oversight, and transparency."

Any introduction of the technology in Scotland could be difficult and the proposals have already been met with opposition from civil rights groups and supporters associations.

A spokesperson for Amnesty International UK said: "Facial Recognition Technology is a dangerous and discriminatory tool of surveillance that should be scrapped, not rolled out further across the UK."

The spokesperson said use of FRT in England and Wales has led to "repeated cases of harassment and false arrest."

"To move forward with FRT would bring about a historic shift in the relationship between the police and the public in Scotland and we want to see its use ruled out," they said.

Paul Goodwin, from the Scottish Football Supporters Association, also urged authorities to set aside the "reckless proposal".

He said they should "instead focus on deepening co-operation with local fan groups and clubs in building a community safety approach."

A Scottish government spokesperson said any deployment of new technology would be an operational matter but they were committed to introducing legislation, like strengthening football banning orders, to make the sport safer for fans and players.

The SPFL and Scottish Football Association have been approached for comment.