The Metropolitan Police has begun its next stage of clamping down on crime in Croydon town centre
Some 17 people have been arrested in Croydon as the Metropolitan Police trials permanent facial recognition cameras. New static cameras were set up in the town centre on October 1, which officers say have ‘yielded impressive results’.
The arrests have been made after two deployments for a range of offences which include stalking, domestic abuse, indecent exposure and actual bodily harm. Scotland Yard said the trial is part ofa scheme to bring offenders to justice and keep the public safe.
A spokesperson said: “They are only switched on during a live deployment with officers on the ground and permanently delete any biometric data if someone is not on the watch list. It is important that we quickly identify those who are wanted to protect victims, businesses and the community.”
It is the next stage of a police clampdown on crime across Croydon town centre which has been happening throughout 2025. A particular focus on shoplifting saw offences drop from 2,050 between July and December 2024 to 1,432 between January and June this year.
Despite this, traders in Surrey Street Market told MyLondon in August claimed the improvement of crime statistics are not felt on the ground level where businesses are in a constant battle with thieves and drug users.
Human rights charity Liberty has criticised the decision to set up fixed facial recognition cameras in Croydon, stating there not enough safeguards around how they are used by police.
Sam Grant, director of external affairs, said: “The escalation of surveillance in Croydon with fixed facial recognition cameras undermines the rights of local residents, and it should worry all of us that police use of this tech is being expanded when there are no clear laws or safeguards to protect our rights.
“Facial recognition technology allows police to track and monitor every one of us while we go about our daily lives. Walking past a camera is like showing your ID at a checkpoint, something most of us don’t want to have to do in order to go to the shops.
“Fixed cameras are a huge -step change in how police use this tech. The Government must follow the example of other countries who have put laws in place around how facial recognition is used by police.”
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