At yesterday's #LondonPolicingBoard I thanked the @metpoliceuk for their commitment to keeping London safe, with support from @MOPACLdn, my @LDN_VRU, local authorities and our communities. Together, we'll continue to be tough on crime and its complex causes.

Four paragraphs from the BBC News repot, quoting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley: "It's really important we're deploying it where there's an intelligence basis to do so," he told board members. "That's one of the safeguards - that you're not using it as mass surveillance tool - you're using it in particular places where there is intelligence based to say this may actually make people safer." Sir Mark added that although there may be a case for using the technology at future protests, it would need to be balanced with freedom of speech concerns, as it could have a "chilling effect". "And the intelligence picture at the weekend - that we had before the event - didn't justify that," he added.

Live facial recognition (#LFR) was not used to police the #UniteTheKingdom rally in #London. No "intelligence basis" for it, #MetropolitanPolice Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told #LondonPolicingBoard.
Rowley was challenged on the difference in approach at […]

[Original post on mastodon.ie]

Great to join my first @london.gov.uk #LondonPolicingBoard this morning to hear from the @MetPoliceUK Commissioner on progress to deliver the New Met for London Plan and the Met’s Children Strategy with a Child First approach.