Seven arrests made using new live facial recognition technology deployed in Northamptonshire

The specialist van fitted with the ‘cutting edge’ tech was in operation in Northampton on Friday, November 28 and Friday, December 5, in Kettering on Saturday, November 29 and in Wellingborough on Saturday, December 6.

Of the seven arrests, two took place in Wellingborough town centre and five in Northampton.

Detective Chief Superintendent Rich Tompkins, force lead for LFR, said: “This was the first time we had deployed live facial recognition cameras in Northamptonshire town centres as part of a crime prevention and reduction operation and I’m really pleased with the positive results achieved.

“This important new technology helped officers identify and arrest four people who were wanted for various offences, including shoplifting, immigration offences and sexual assault, and two who were found to be in breach of the conditions of their Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“Further checks were carried out on seven men who were also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with officers able to establish they were in compliance with the conditions set out in the order.”

A van fitted with live facial recognition technology was loaned to Northamptonshire Police from Bedfordshire Police, where it was used in Kettering, Wellingborough and Northampton during the UN Women’s global 16 Days of Activism campaign from November 25 to December 10. Police say the van was in place to ‘target violence against women and girls.’

By using video cameras to detect faces, the technology can match them with a pre-loaded watchlist of suspects typically wanted on suspicion of committing a crime, having an outstanding court warrant against them, or is otherwise wanted by police.

During the four days of deployment, there were 13 positive alerts resulting in six arrests. Officers spoke to and carried out checks on seven other people to ensure any licence or court order conditions were being complied with.

Three women were arrested on November 28 while the van was in Abington Street outside the Grosvenor Centre, two for failing to appear at court in connection with drugs offences and shoplifting and another in connection with criminal damage offences.

Two men were arrested in Northampton, on December 5 while the van was in the Market Square and Drapery area for breaching the conditions of their Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

While the van was deployed in Market Street, Wellingborough on December 6, a man wanted for a sexual assault on a child, with officers also finding him in possession of a lock knife. He was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and bailed for the sexual assault.

Finally, a person was arrested by officers working on the LFR operation in Wellingborough town centre, who spotted a man wanted for failing to appear at court warrant.

Northamptonshire Police are keen to continue using the technology, which was used for the first time in Northamptonshire at the 2025 British Grand Prix, in 2026 and beyond.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tompkins added: “We understand the concern some people have about LFR but as the results of this operation show, it’s a hugely valuable tool in helping to fight crime and protect our communities.

“I’m grateful to colleagues in Bedfordshire Police for loaning us their van for this operation. We are committed to using this technology sensitively and transparently, and we will fully review this operation to identify any areas for improvement for future deployments.

“We will now look for further opportunities to utilise live facial recognition in helping to tackle serious and priority crime such as violence against women and girls, as we work toward the introduction of our own LFR technology in early 2026.”