Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's letter to the Secretary of State for Transport on the risks to the ANPR system, published on 11 October 2023, what assessment she has made of the implications for her polices of the Commission's comments on the creation of a national facial recognition software database; and if she will make a statement.

The government is committed to making sure the police have the tools and technology they need to solve and prevent crimes, bring offenders to justice, and keep people safe.

Technology such as facial recognition can help the police quickly and accurately identify those wanted for serious crimes, as well as missing or vulnerable people. It also frees up police time and resources, meaning more officers can be out on the beat, engaging with communities and carrying out complex investigations.

The Police National Database (PND), established in response to the Soham murders, enables the sharing of intelligence, including facial images. It has had a facial searching service since 2013, and has led to the identification of murderers, rapists and other offenders.