Newham Councillor Amar Virdee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Crime, argues that the identifying technology erodes trust and is prone to error and bias, disproportionately affecting those from minority ethnic backgrounds

A video camera on a pole in front of a blue sky — Photo by Vladislav Glukhotko on Unsplash

Newham Council has been questioning the police use of facial recognition, but the police have ignored their concerns and are going ahead with the technology, according to a Council statement.

“I am committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our residents,” said Councillor Amar Virdee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Crime. However, he argues that use of this technology in public spaces infringes on the privacy of residents, subjecting them to surveillance without their consent. “This level of intrusion erodes the trust between the community and the law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting it, “ he said.

“Studies have demonstrated that facial recognition software is prone to bias and inaccuracies, disproportionately affecting those from minority ethnic backgrounds. The implications of these biases are profound and unacceptable, as they can lead to wrongful identifications, false accusations and undue harassment of innocent citizens.”

Councillor Virdee urged the police to engage with the community in developing alternative methods that ensure both security and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

The police have argued that facial recognition, when used according to the College of Policing guidance, ensures fairness and proportionality.

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