London’s Oxford Street is set to become one of the first locations in the United Kingdom to feature permanent live facial recognition (LFR) cameras, according to Mayor Sadiq Khan. The installation of fixed LFR devices will mark a shift from the temporary use of mobile police vans to more continuous surveillance on the capital’s busiest shopping thoroughfare.

The facial recognition system is expected to be integrated into street furniture, such as lamp posts, as part of a wider redevelopment plan that will pedestrianize Oxford Street. This follows similar intentions by the Metropolitan Police Service to deploy static LFR cameras elsewhere in the West End.

LFR technology enables law enforcement to scan faces of passers-by and compare them against police watchlists in real time. When the system flags a potential match, officers verify identities using photographic identification or mobile fingerprint scanners before taking further action. The Met reported scanning approximately 4.2 million faces in the previous year, resulting in 1,133 arrests for various offenses including breaching bail terms or outstanding warrants.

Mayor Khan has emphasized transparency regarding the deployment of LFR, stating during a City Hall session that the public should be informed about how the technology will be used and that its rollout will occur gradually across London.

Despite these official assurances, the initiative has drawn criticism from privacy advocates. Jasleen Chaggar of Big Brother Watch voiced concern over the implications for innocent individuals, arguing that people who are not suspected of any criminal activity should retain the ability to move freely in public spaces without being required to identify themselves to authorities.

The introduction of permanent facial recognition technology at Oxford Street represents a notable development in policing and public safety strategies in London, amid ongoing debates about privacy and civil liberties.