British Transport Police Launches Live Facial Recognition Trial at London Bridge

The British Transport Police (BTP) has begun a six-month trial of live facial recognition (LFR) technology at London Bridge station, marking a significant advance in biometric surveillance across the UK rail network. The pilot program, which began on February 11, 2026, will evaluate how well the technology operates in a crowded railway station while determining its capability to enhance public safety.

The project is under the supervision of Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, who leads the evaluation of technological performance through the trial, which tests real-world conditions. The pilot project required extensive research and planning work. However, rights groups have voiced concerns that such trials could normalise mass scanning in public spaces.

The LFR cameras scan faces. People who pass through measured areas and then their faces are checked against a list that contains names of people who are wanted because of serious criminal offenses. When a match is found, an officer checks the alert to determine whether the situation requires additional response. Details regarding watchlist criteria, data retention, and alert review processes are part of the trial’s evaluation. Passengers can use alternate routes to avoid recognition zones, and images of individuals not on watchlists are removed from the system. Public feedback is being collected via QR codes on posters, and deployment schedules and operational sites will be shared publicly prior to implementation.

BTP has assured passengers that they can use alternate pathways, which lead beyond the recognition zone, while all non-listed individuals will have their images removed from the system. The force will use QR codes, which they placed on posters, to collect public feedback, while they will disclose their deployment schedule together with their operational sites before their actual deployment.

The pilot program evaluates biometric surveillance systems, which have been implemented in previous trials by police departments in major urban areas globally. The trial at London Bridge station is designed to test the technology’s performance in real-world conditions, including crowded public spaces, and to assess its potential for enhancing operational efficiency and public safety.

Global Deployments of Live Facial Recognition in Public Safety

Facial recognition trials have been conducted in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Tokyo, which target specific crime hotspots and transit hubs for their testing. The Met Police faced legal challenges in London because of their usage of LFR technology, while China and Singapore have implemented similar systems across their regions to monitor security and public safety.