Friday, the 19th of September 2025 saw the first deployment of mobile face recognition camera vehicles on the streets of Bedford.
Bedfordshire Police have rolled out Live Facial Recognition (LFR) cameras in Bedford town centre, marking the latest step in a national Home Office initiative.
Two specialist police vans equipped with LFR cameras are now on patrol. The technology scans live camera feeds against police watchlists of wanted individuals, alerting officers to possible matches in real time.
Superintendent Ian Taylor, the force’s LFR lead, said officers would be available to speak with residents:
“We know the community still have questions about advanced technology in policing, and officers will be on hand to answer them.”
He added that while the capability is new to Bedfordshire, it has already been in use across policing and security services nationwide.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard welcomed the vans, part of a Home Office rollout of ten vehicles across England and Wales. He said the technology would give officers a “targeted, cutting-edge tool to catch high-harm criminals.”
The PCC has also agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bedfordshire Police to ensure the system is used ethically, legally, and proportionately.
As well as tracing wanted suspects, the technology can help locate high-risk missing people, crime victims, or others with vital information for serious investigations.
If the system flags a possible match, officers review it securely, confirm the person’s identity, and take appropriate action.
Bedford’s Conservative Mayor Tom Wootton praised the move, noting that an earlier trial at the River Festival recorded “no false alerts.”
St Neots Ladies Circle Calling for Donations at Christmas Lights Switch-On
Angels Foundation UK secures third consecutive year as Captain’s Charity at St Neots Golf Club
Huntingdonshire residents invited to ‘Be a Councillor’
Drivers urged to get winter-ready as police launch seasonal safety campaign
Comments
Add a comment