Police facial recognition vans 'feel totalitarian'

Sylvia Barumire (left) and Fahidat Amusat raised concerns about the technology

A police force's decision to start using vans with live facial recognition technology in them feel like a "totalitarian" move, young people have said.

Greater Manchester Police will be able to scan the faces of passers-by and check them against a database of wanted individuals.

Sylvia Barumire, 18, said: "I think it is quite totalitarian, especially in a society like England that claims to be very democratic and free."

Greater Manchester Police declined to comment when approached by the BBC.

The vans have already been deployed in London, South Wales and Essex

Greater Manchester police is one of seven forces in England to receive a share of 10 new vans.

The vehicles will be operated by a trained officer who verifies any matches identified by the technology.

The system measures facial features, like the distance between the eyes and the length of the jawline, and compares the data to an existing watchlist.

The technology has already been used in London to make 580 arrests in 12 months, including those of 52 registered sex offenders accused of breaching their conditions.

Talia Kerr (left) and Olivia Keane think the vans will be useful if they reduce crime rates

Speaking to the BBC at Piccadilly Gardens, reactions to the vans were mixed.

Mia Kaivanto, 18, raised concerns about data privacy. She said: "More surveillance isn't necessarily equivalent to more efficient arrests."

Another concern, raised by 21-year-old Awsten Heron, was whether the technology would be used to target protesters.

The seven forces receiving a share of the 10 vans are Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire.

Talia Kerr, 18, and Olivia Keane, 19, said the vans could help people feel "a lot safer".

"I think it is a good idea if it helps reduce crime rates," Ms Keane added.

Jake Johnson, 25, said he thought there was potential for the new systems to be "abused," but if it was used as intended to help catch criminals, it was "ok".