Arrests made using facial recognition technology

Police describe the technology as a "vital tool"

Two arrests have been made by police using live facial recognition technology, just days after they received a new van with the equipment.

Surrey Police said a 69-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of breaching his sexual risk order while officers were using the technology in Redhill on Thursday.

During the kit's deployment, the force said it had received five positive alerts, with a 25-year-old man also being arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in relation to a previous offence. He was later de-arrested.

Police said further stops ensured conditions of a sexual harm prevention order and a stalking protection order were being complied with.

A police spokesperson says the technology is a "vital tool" to help them find people on a pre-determined watchlist, including people wanted over sex and domestic abuse offences.

Anyone not on a watchlist will have their face blurred on the police feed and their images will be deleted immediately, they added.

Prior to the force receiving the new equipment, Surrey Police's Ch Insp Andy Hill said: "We've taken a lot of learning from other forces who have been ahead of us with it.

"The software itself has been subject to a lot of testing and development and we are confident in its accuracy."