Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance is in place relating to the quality of images required for facial recognition searches using the police national database, in the context of composite photofit images.

Guidance for forces using the Police National Database is provided through the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing and reflects established standards relating to the capture, handling, and use of facial images. This includes consideration of image quality and the need to manage the risk of misidentification.

Any potential matches are reviewed by trained officers and must be corroborated before any operational or investigatory action is taken.

Police forces must have regard to the Home Secretary’s Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, which sets out expectations for the use of surveillance camera systems and includes requirements around necessity, proportionality, and appropriate safeguards.

Individual police forces remain responsible for local policies and procedures in line with national guidance and the law.