In the upcoming British Grand Prix, Northamptonshire Police will once again employ facial recognition technology to prevent criminal activity at the event. With an estimated 480,000 attendees from July 4-7, the force is committed to ensuring safety in collaboration with Silverstone.
Det Supt Richard Tompkins emphasized the importance of staying vigilant each year due to new challenges that may arise. The technology works by scanning faces using a camera and comparing biometrics against a watch list. Signs and QR codes will designate where the facial recognition is being used.
Mr. Tompkins highlighted the objective of preventing criminals from attending the event and stated that individuals wanted by Northamptonshire or surrounding areas, or suspected of planning criminal activities as part of an organized gang, will have their images loaded into the system. Despite concerns about potential biases and lack of clear guidelines raised in past years, Mr. Tompkins believes that if the technology helps keep people safe, then it is worth implementing. Drawing parallels to initial concerns about CCTV in public spaces, he assures the public that data is not stored and reiterates the primary goal of the operation – to ensure public safety.