Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Vince Excerpts
Monday 31st March 2025

(3 days, 12 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Diana Johnson Portrait Dame Diana Johnson
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I fully accept that there is a need to consider live facial recognition. At the moment the law governing the use of that technology comes from various different things—human rights and equalities legislation, and other measures—and we want to see whether that should be brought together. That is why I have been having a series of meetings over the last few months. As I said, we will set out our plans for live facial recognition in the coming months.

Chris Vince Portrait Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)
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Harlow police department’s recent successful trial of facial recognition has led to some arrests. Does the Minister agree that technology can play a vital part in tackling crime but cannot be a substitute for neighbourhood policing?

Diana Johnson Portrait Dame Diana Johnson
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Yes, I agree with my hon. Friend. That is why we have committed to neighbourhood policing and 13,000 additional police officers and PCSOs on all our high streets and in communities up and down the land.