Live facial recognition to be used by police for fourth year at British Grand Prix as Northamptonshire gears up to welcome 500,000 visitors
Live facial recognition technology will be used by police for the fourth consecutive year at the British Grand Prix.
Northamptonshire is gearing up to welcome more than half a million people at this year’s Formula One event, which will take place from Thursday July 2 until Sunday July 5.
Policing preparations are also underway, as officers will be on duty across the weekend, patrolling the circuit, campsites, surrounding villages and key routes.
Live Facial Recognition (LFR) will be in use at the circuit and officers will have access to powers under the Public Order Act 2023 as part of contingency plans to address any unlawful disruption of the event.
Northamptonshire Police Event Commander, Chief Inspector Pete Basham said: “LFR has been used at the Grand Prix for the past three years. It enables officers to compare images in real time against a pre-determined watchlist of individuals of interest or those who may pose a risk.
“This technology is a valuable tool in preventing and detecting crime, but the public also play a vital role and we encourage people to report anything that feels unusual or suspicious.
“With the national terrorism threat level currently at ‘severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely, it’s important we all remain vigilant. We’re supporting the national Counter Terrorism Policing campaign to encourage people to stay alert and look out for one another during the busy summer events season.
“The many thousands of people who will be coming through the gates at Silverstone can make a real difference by trusting their instincts and reporting concerns. We would always rather have a well-meaning report that turns out to be nothing than miss something important.”
At last year’s event, 34 crimes reported and 20 arrests made, so according to Northamptonshire Police a similar range of resources will be in place this year.
Specialist resources, including armed officers, search teams, disruption officers and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) units, will also be deployed to support public safety.
Chief Inspector Basham added: “This is one of the UK’s largest sporting events, with record visitor numbers expected across four days of racing and live entertainment.
“The safety and security of racegoers, local residents and visitors is our priority. We’ll have a strong policing presence throughout the event to prevent crime and respond to incidents both at the circuit and across the wider area.
“While we have many years of experience policing this event, our planning begins months in advance and remains as rigorous as ever. We’ve worked closely with organisers, security teams and partner agencies to coordinate resources, mutual aid and prepare detailed operational plans.
“As the event approaches, we are finalising preparations to ensure a safe and enjoyable weekend, while making it clear that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Alongside the policing operation, information and crime prevention advice will be available online on the Northamptonshire Police website. The force says information and advice will also be shared via Northamptonshire Police social media channels to help ensure a safe event for racegoers and local residents alike.