Oxford Street is one of the world’s busiest shopping areas, with about half a million visitors each day.
Read More: HMV to close Oxford Street store three years after reopening historic site Read More: Oxford Street to be pedestrianised from October It comes as a stretch of Oxford Street is due to be pedestrianised next week, with plans for the whole street to eventually become traffic-free.
The Metropolitan Police 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.
Akiko Hart, director of human rights organisation Liberty, said: “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.
A Met spokesperson said: “Live, facial recognition is an important tool which is helping us keep London safe.