The UK Home Office has introduced a new policy that allows Immigration Enforcement to use live facial recognition technology in public spaces to identify individuals wanted under immigration and criminal law. This policy, version 2.3, was signed off on September 28, 2026, and published in October. It outlines the rules governing overt Live Facial Recognition deployments, including the use of the technology to locate individuals with outstanding deportation orders, court warrants, and certain unresolved immigration cases.
The technology scans faces within a designated camera zone and converts the images into numerical biometric templates. These are then compared with a pre-approved watchlist created for a specific operation. When the system identifies a possible match, it generates an alert for review by a trained human operator. An alert does not automatically justify enforcement action; a human officer must assess the result and decide whether to approach or detain the individual.
The policy requires that data collected during deployments be cleared within 24 hours where no match is identified. Images of people who do not generate an alert must be automatically and permanently deleted. Every operation must receive written authorization from an officer of at least Grade 7 rank before it begins. This ensures that the technology is used in a targeted and controlled manner.
The Home Office policy places restrictions on who can be included on an LFR watchlist. Eligible categories include individuals subject to an active deportation order, alongside other specified groups covered by the policy. The document states that the technology must not be used for general surveillance, intelligence gathering, or speculative monitoring. Watchlists must be created for a particular deployment, kept as narrow as possible, and cannot be reused without fresh authorization.
Immigration Enforcement says the system is intended to support four main objectives: preventing illegal entry, managing people without legal status, removing individuals who have no right to remain in the UK, and protecting the public and the integrity of the immigration system. The policy confirms that members of the public are not legally required to cooperate with facial scanning during an LFR deployment.
The policy describes the operations as overt, meaning the technology is used visibly rather than covertly. The Home Office says deployments are subject to internal oversight and scrutiny by external bodies, including the Information Commissioner's Office and the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner. This ensures that the use of live facial recognition technology is transparent and accountable.
The new policy affects the way immigration enforcement operations may be conducted in public areas across the UK. It sets out the safeguards and authorization requirements that Immigration Enforcement must follow when using the technology. The policy aims to balance the need for effective immigration enforcement with the need to protect individual rights and freedoms.
Key points
- The UK Home Office has introduced a new policy allowing Immigration Enforcement to use live facial recognition technology in public spaces to identify individuals wanted under immigration and criminal law.
- The technology is intended to support four main objectives: preventing illegal entry, managing people without legal status, removing individuals who have no right to remain in the UK, and protecting the public and the integrity of the immigration system.
- The policy requires that data collected during deployments be cleared within 24 hours where no match is identified, and images of people who do not generate an alert must be automatically and permanently deleted.
