More than 170 arrests in facial recognition trial - Published More than 170 criminals, including a woman wanted for more than 20 years, were arrested during a six-month trial of live facial recognition (LFR) in south London. The Metropolitan Police said crime reduced by 10.5% during the trial on Croydon's high street, which took place from October 2025 to March 2026. There was also a 21% reduction in violence against women and girls. Arrests included a woman, 36, who was wanted for failing to appear at court for an assault in 2004. Other arrests included people wanted for kidnap, rape and serious sexual assault. The Met said the data showed LFR was a "powerful tool", but campaign group Big Brother Watch called for "strict safeguards" for the technology. LFR deployments typically require a dedicated van which houses cameras and computer equipment. During the pilot, cameras were mounted to infrastructure such as lampposts at the north and south ends of Croydon's high street. 'Intelligence-led watchlist' Static cameras were activated and used in 24 separate operations, and officers made 173 arrests, the equivalent of one arrest every 35 minutes, the Met said. The Met said each deployment of the cameras used a "bespoke, intelligence-led watchlist" that was created no more than 24 hours in advance and deleted immediately afterwards. Other arrests linked to the pilot included a 31-year-old man who was wanted for voyeurism for more than six months and a 41-year-old man who was wanted for rape in relation to an incident in November in Croydon. The force said 61% of the offences linked to arrests were committed in Croydon. Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for LFR, said the technology was a "powerful tool when it's used carefully, openly and in the right places". "This technology is helping us find