Norfolk Police to deploy facial recognition in Norwich city centre

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 15:31 · Archive

Norfolk Constabulary will deploy live facial recognition technology in Norwich city centre on Saturday, November 21, 2026, as part of efforts to improve public safety. The technology helps officers quickly identify individuals wanted by police or the courts, those who pose a risk to the public, or those subject to court orders restricting them from certain areas.

Norfolk Constabulary has used LFR four times this year, scanning more than 100,000 faces in total. Two deployments in Norwich city centre in March resulted in one arrest, and the technology was also used over two days in Great Yarmouth in August. Across all four deployments this year, the technology has generated three arrests from alerts provided by the system.

The force said the deployment will be clearly signposted, with a marked police vehicle in place and officers on hand to answer questions. Norfolk Constabulary stated it is committed to using the technology responsibly, ethically, and in line with strict legal and regulatory standards.

How it is being reported

• Big brother returning to city centre as police set to scan thousands more facesPolice will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Norwich city centre on Saturday, November 21, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to improve public safety.Norwich Evening News · 14 Nov, 15:00
• Big brother returning to city centre as police set to scan thousands more facesPolice will deploy live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Norwich city centre on Saturday, November 21, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to improve public safety.Eastern Daily Press · 14 Nov, 15:00

In this story: Norfolk Constabulary · Norwich · Great Yarmouth

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log