Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which independent oversight mechanism is responsible for overseeing the police's use of automated facial recognition technology.

The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice requires any police use of facial recognition or other biometric characteristic recognition systems to be clearly justified an proportionate in meeting the stated purpose. The retention of facial images by the police is governed by data protection legislation and by Authorised Professional Practice governed by the College of Policing.