Croydon is poised to become the first city in the democratic world to install permanent live facial recognition (LFR) cameras. These cameras will be fixed to lampposts or buildings on pedestrian streets and will scan faces to match them against criminal databases. The initiative comes close to the site where schoolgirl Elianne Andam tragically lost her life in 2023, bringing heightened emotions and mixed reactions.
Many residents and shoppers are relieved, hoping the new technology will deter crime and improve safety in the area. Croydon was named London’s violence hotspot last year, recording over 10,000 violent crimes in a single year. Residents like Akosua Murphy, who has lived in Croydon for 17 years, say they are desperate for change. “Every day I pray my grandchildren come home safe,” she said, referencing the community’s fear and the decline in safety on the high street.
The technology is not entirely new to Croydon. The Metropolitan Police have been using mobile LFR vans, which visit the area regularly to scan crowds near popular stores. However, this marks the first time LFR will be embedded permanently into the infrastructure.
Critics, including the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, question both the effectiveness and the ethics of the technology. A recent use of LFR in Cardiff scanned over 162,000 faces during a sporting event but led to zero arrests. Concerns have also been raised over false positives, like the case of community worker Shaun Thompson, who was wrongly flagged and detained near London Bridge despite presenting valid ID.
Madeleine Stone of Big Brother Watch argues the use of LFR is outpacing legislation, giving police unregulated power. “Everyone gets something wrong sometimes, but what happens when the algorithm gets it wrong?” she asked. Mistaken identity has already led to peaceful protesters and even people on mental health watch lists being flagged.
Despite these concerns, many locals prioritize safety over privacy. Shannon Kirwin, who helps run her family’s food van, has witnessed gang violence first-hand. “The place has gone down massively over the last decade,” she said, though she questioned how effective the cameras will be if criminals wear face coverings.
Others, like local musician Christian, support the move unreservedly. “This place is no longer a nice place. If you haven’t done anything wrong, there’s no need to be worried,” he said.
The Metropolitan Police claim LFR has already led to 500 arrests, including dangerous offenders. Mitch Carr, the superintendent for south London, confirmed the shift towards making facial recognition a routine policing tool, promising that cameras will only be active when officers are present to respond in real time.
As Croydon enters this new surveillance chapter, the community is split—between hope for a safer tomorrow and fear of what constant monitoring could mean for civil liberties.