Use facial recognition to stop football violence, says police chief inspector
A number of police forces in England use Live Facial Recognition (LFR), but Police Scotland does not
Police Scotland should use facial recognition technology to stop football violence, the chief inspector has said.
Craig Naylor, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Constabulary in Scotland, has told the Scottish Government that drones and facial recognition could “reduce the threats posed to the public from high-risk sex offenders, organised crime groups, violent offenders and others whose activities cause significant harm to communities”.
A number of police forces in England use Live Facial Recognition (LFR), but Police Scotland does not.
It comes after high-profile disorder at football games in Scotland last season, including pitch invasions at the Old Firm and Celtic’s title-deciding match against Hearts.
Mr Naylor said “the challenge” for public sector leaders was “not whether to adopt these technologies, but how quickly they can do so safely, ethically and effectively”.
He said: “Police and law enforcement partners must seek to exploit, with appropriate safeguards in place, advancements in operational technology such as remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones) and facial recognition.
“The public sector should be ambitious in harnessing innovation to improve services while preserving public trust and accountability by explaining the case for use of these new capabilities.”
Mr Naylor described the recent football violence and related disorder witnessed in Scotland as “a situation that cannot continue to be tolerated”.
He said the increasing threat, especially outside football grounds, was likely to increase the number of police officers being deployed to future games.
This means less police officers are available in other areas and increases the cost of policing through overtime or other deferred costs.
He said football clubs, governing bodies, local authorities and supporter groups must share responsibility with policing in creating a safer environment.
He said the use of facial recognition technology as one means of helping prevent future football related disorder.
Mr Naylor said: “Elements such as restricting the number of fans allowed to attend matches, banning orders with more rigour, requirements to use modern technologies such as facial recognition to prevent the attendance of banned individuals should all be explored and enacted to ensure that this behaviour is stopped.”
Last year Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority engaged in a ‘national conversation’ where they sought the views of both the public and stakeholders on the future use of live facial recognition technology by policing in Scotland.
They have since said they will continue to engage with stakeholders and the public, while considering policy, and operating procedures around the introduction of LFR.
A total of 47 arrests have been made in relation to the last Old Firm match of last season and Celtic vs Hearts on the final day - both of which featured pitch invasions.
Two police officers were injured in Glasgow city centre after Celtic beat Hearts 3-1 to dramatically win the league title on the last match of the season.
It came as Celtic fans gathered in the Trongate area, in the east end of Glasgow, to celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership.
Police Scotland chief constable Jo Farrell said in the aftermath that football violence was being “shrugged off” due to a lack of accountability from clubs and the game's authorities.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Police Scotland, said: "We have a duty to use new technologies to safeguard our communities. New technologies can offer transformative opportunities for modern policing, through supporting investigations and identification.
"We want people to recognise both the value of new technologies and be confident that Police Scotland has the right governance and the right measures in place, and that consideration and implementation of new technologies reflects our commitment to human rights, ethical oversight, and transparency.
"Our consideration of LFR, working with the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner, continues. We are considering next steps following on from responses to our consultation on the Biometrics Strategy, published earlier this month, which highlighted both public support for and the need for assurance, governance and scrutiny around our potential use of new technologies."
The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
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