The British Transport Police (BTP) has begun a trial of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology at some Transport for London (TfL) stations.

TfL is supporting the trial, which forms part of ongoing efforts to improve safety.

It also hopes that it will help to tackle sexual violence, harassment and intimidation, which disproportionately affect women and girls.

TfL has also run campaigns on the issue of sexual harassment on its services.

The BTP claims that other police forces’ use of the controversial technology has proved effective in deterring and finding wanted criminals, protecting people from harm and reducing crime.

The trial will be led by the BTP, and will take place in signed areas of TfL stations, which will allow passengers to choose whether or not to pass through the area.

TfL is assuring passengers that the trial includes robust safeguards, governance and oversight, and complies with the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, which include privacy, data protection, equality and human rights requirements.

TfL also states that it has “engaged extensively with key stakeholders” and “taken on feedback”, and that it will continue this engagement during and after the trial.

This will include commissioning independent research to assess perceptions of safety at the start and end of the trial.

The technology that is being used in this trial generates alerts for individuals on an authorised BTP watchlist of people linked to serious and high-harm offences such as robbery, knife crime and sexual assault.

The technology scans people’s faces in real time, but TfL has confirmed that images of people who do not match anyone on the watchlist will be deleted.

The BTP began a similar trial at London Bridge mainline station earlier this year. This new trial will begin at Victoria Underground station on Tuesday 11 August

“Facial recognition technology is already helping the Met get wanted criminals off the streets and protect our communities, so I’m pleased to see TfL and the BTP exploring how this cutting-edge technology can help Londoners and visitors to be safer and feel safer on our transport network too. I will be following the results of the pilot with interest as we continue to work with partner organisations, businesses and communities to build a safer London for everyone.”

Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor of London for Policing and Crime