Council has more than 100 cameras with facial recognition capability

Preston City Council has more than 100 CCTV cameras with facial recognition technology enabled, according to information disclosed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Liberty Investigates.

The council said that, of its 130 cameras, a facial recognition watchlist is used on just one, inside its One Stop Shop at Preston Town Hall.

A watchlist contains images of people the system is looking for and can alert operators to a potential match.

Preston City Council said it uses the technology to help deter and detect crime and anti-social behaviour. It added that facial recognition watchlists are not used across the wider CCTV network and that it has "no plans to expand its use".

The council said it uses the watchlist on an internal camera for individuals banned from the town hall, and explained that they currently have just one person on that list.

Charlie Whelton, police and campaigns officer at Liberty Investigates, said: "We're really quite concerned about the scope of this and how much it could be happening across the country."

"In the case of Preston Council, we're talking about people accessing really quite important services that would be subject to this type of surveillance," Whelton said.

"And whether you are on the watchlist or not, you really should know about it."

Liberty Investigates said Preston City Council did not consult the public before the technology was introduced.

Ten Lancashire councils said they do not use facial recognition technology or have it enabled on their cameras.

Burnley council said it has 60 public space cameras capable of using facial recognition technology, but they do not have the technology enabled or functional with any watchlists, and have no plans to enable it.

There is currently no specific UK legislation governing the use of live facial recognition, just existing GDPR rulings.

The government indicated last year that it would consider new legislation and launched a public consultation on its use.

The EU passed the Artificial Intelligence Act in 2024 - a comprehensive framework governing the technology.

The council also revealed in its FOI that it shares CCTV footage with the police when it is formally requested.

Lancashire police Chief Superintendent Chris Hardy said the force is looking at how it can develop its use of facial recognition further after using it for the first time during the Blackpool Illuminations switch on in September.

During the event, the cameras scanned more than 20,000 faces. The force said they identified three people, and arrested one person as a result.

"It makes us much more efficient and effective when we're looking for people who may be wanted or people of interest," Chief Supt Hardy said.

In terms of watchlists, Chief Supt Hardy said they are created 24 hours before the deployment, in an area that is "well signposted".

"It's not permanently running in the background," he said.

A council spokesperson said: "Preston City Council's CCTV system has the capability to use facial recognition technology.

"This functionality allows authorised operators to add a specific person of interest to a watchlist and, where necessary, apply monitoring to selected cameras within the network.

"The council currently operates a facial recognition watchlist on a single camera located within the One Stop Shop. Beyond this, facial recognition watchlists are not in use across the wider CCTV network.

"There are currently no plans to expand its use. Any future deployment would only be considered where there was a clear and legitimate operational need, such as supporting a police investigation, assisting with a missing person enquiry, or addressing a specific public safety issue.

"The council has CCTV signage in place at relevant locations and would review any requirements relating to public information and transparency should there be any change to how the technology is used in the future."

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