Met chief: Why we didn't use LFR at Robinson rally

Concerns around freedom of speech prevented the Met Police using live facial recognition technology at the Unite the Kingdom rally in London, its commissioner says.

Sir Mark Rowley said facial scanning hadn't yet been used at any protest, including at Saturday's march in London organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, "because of what may be sensed about it having a chilling effect".

He said the force had to consider how to police protests where people wanted to express their views and this could differ to events where violence and disorder was possible.

Speaking to the London Policing Board on Tuesday, he added there would be another 50 arrests.

The future arrests for violent disorder would follow the 24 arrests already made after 26 officers were injured on the day - including four who were seriously hurt - at a rally attended by more than 150,000 people.

The force has already charged eight people with various offences including assault and public order crimes.

About 5,000 people took part in a counter-protest, co-ordinated by Stand Up To Racism.

Asked by members of the London Policing Board about the difference in approach to Notting Hill Carnival, Sir Mark said: "It's a classic example of the most difficult public order challenges.

"A large crowd, tens of thousands of people peacefully expressing their opinion, and tens of people determined on serious violence.

"We haven't used [LFR] on any protests so far and I'm cautious on using it on protests, as opposed to events, for the reason of freedom of speech and the rights expressed under the Human Rights Act to that point so that has to be a consideration that goes into the equation for using it."

He added: "The last protest from the same organisers as this one didn't have any trouble of any significance so the suggestion that every protest organised by these organisers has trouble is not actually accurate."

'Clear intelligence basis'

He was speaking following last month's Notting Hill Carnival, which the Metropolitan Police said had led to "far fewer" incidents of serious violence than in recent years.

There were more than 420 arrests over two days and two stabbings but the Met said neither led to serious injury.

In 2024, there were two deaths from stabbings at Carnival and in 2023 eight stabbings.

The Met says its use of LFR at this year's carnival led to less serious violence

Sir Mark said: "I talked about the intelligence case so looking at the number of stabbings, the two murders, and everything that went on at Carnival last year, and the tragic history of violence.

"Carnival is an event which has hundreds of thousands of people turn up to celebrate culture but sadly, hundreds of people turn up set on criminality and there's a pattern of that and it turns to violence and that puts the hundreds of thousands of good people at risk.

"That intelligence case built up over multiple years and what we could see going to the event creates grounds to say, actually, there are dangerous people who are going to undermine this event for the good majority, and that needs tackling.

"That's a very clear intelligence basis to deploy it."