Live facial-recognition cameras to monitor shoppers on Oxford Street this December

London’s busiest shopping thoroughfare, Oxford Street, will see permanent live facial-recognition cameras installed in December, targeting the influx of holiday shoppers. The Metropolitan Police intends to mount the devices on lampposts and other street furniture, linking them to a database of wanted individuals. Liberty’s director Akiko Hart criticized the move as unregulated and called for a pause until clear safeguards are established, noting that the government’s consultation on biometric use has yet to produce a response.

A Met spokesperson highlighted a six-month trial in Croydon that allegedly reduced crime by 10% and produced 173 arrests, arguing the technology can enhance safety in high-traffic zones like the West End and Soho. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described live facial-recognition as a revolutionary policing tool, while Conservative figure Kemi Badenoch pledged to broaden its use to speed up suspect identification.