Facial recognition cameras coming to Oxford Street for Christmas

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 10:15 · Archive

Live facial recognition cameras will scan shoppers on Oxford Street from December.

Live facial recognition cameras will be installed on London's Oxford Street in December, scanning the faces of Christmas shoppers and comparing them against a watchlist of wanted suspects. The cameras will likely be mounted on street furniture such as lampposts. Oxford Street is one of the world's busiest shopping areas, attracting about half a million visitors each day.

The move comes as Oxford Street is due to be pedestrianised next week, with plans for the entire street eventually to become traffic-free. The Metropolitan Police also plans to use static live facial recognition cameras in London's West End and Soho, which have some of the highest crime rates in London.

Human rights groups have widely criticised the rollout. Akiko Hart, director of Liberty, told the Press Association: 'The introduction of fixed, live, facial recognition cameras on Oxford Street will mean thousands of Christmas shoppers will have their faces scanned by this unregulated surveillance technology without being given a choice.' The Government launched a public consultation in December 2025 to develop a legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics and facial recognition. The Home Office is expected to publish its response later this Parliamentary session, though the consultation closed in February without a response yet published.

How it is being reported

• Permanent facial recognition cameras to be installed on Oxford Street by ChristmasLive facial recognition has been widely criticised by human rights groupsThe Independent · 23 Oct, 09:55
• Festive shoppers to be scanned as Oxford Street gets facial recognition camerasThe move has been criticised by human rights groups who say the technology is unregulated.Evening Standard · 23 Oct, 09:00

In this story: Oxford Street · London · Metropolitan Police · Liberty · Akiko Hart · UK

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