Police will deploy live facial recognition at a multi-arts festival in Lowestoft. The technology will be used at the First Light Festival on Saturday, June 20, to identify individuals wanted in connection with serious offences. Suffolk police describe the move as part of broader efforts to embrace innovative tools that support investigations and prioritise public safety. Chief Inspector Andy Pursehouse said: "This innovative technology can play a vital role in protecting people, keeping them safe, investigating crimes and getting justice for victims. "It also means we are saving time and effort for our officers, leaving them able to do other work to protect and help the public. "The presence of the van is also a proven and powerful engagement tool." The forces says that last year more than 200 people came to speak to officers on the ground at the festival to understand more about the technology. Last year’s deployment also led to three arrests and engagement. Chief Inspector Pursehouse added: "I’m confident we will see a similar amount of interest this year as well. "Once again, we will be able to show the public how the system operates and show how the data is deleted and faces are blurred in less than a second if they are not matched against the watchlist. "It’s essential to say those attending the festival should feel reassured that we are only looking for those individuals who have committed serious offences." Live facial recognition compares faces captured on live camera feeds against a pre-determined ‘watch list’ of individuals of interest to police. Images not matching the list are deleted instantly and not stored but if a match is found, officers on the ground will verify the person’s identity and determine the appropriate next steps.