11 people arrested in Southend as facial recognition tech helps police track suspects

Police in Southend arrested eight people over the weekend, after deploying live facial recognition technology in the city centre – with a further three people arrested in other incidents.

The bulk of the arrests were part of an operation led by Essex Police, with neighbourhood policing teams working alongside specialist officers to monitor the area using the facial recognition system. The technology was in place on both Friday and Saturday, 6 and 7 June.

On Saturday, officers made five arrests following positive alerts from the system. Those arrests were connected to a range of offences including assault, drug possession and shoplifting.

The day before, on Friday, a further three arrests were made. These arrests were made in connection with kidnapping, assault and false imprisonment offences.

All eight individuals are now under investigation as enquiries continue.

In a separate incident on Saturday 7 June, a man was arrested in Southend on suspicion of making threats to cause criminal damage and for possessing an offensive weapon.

Then in the early hours of Sunday 8 June, police arrested two people following a chase through the streets. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle, but the suspects failed to stop and made off, leading to a pursuit. They were eventually caught after a foot chase, supported by a police dog. Both individuals were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, vehicle theft and failing to stop. They remain in custody for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hughes said:
“Our dedicated officers are working 24 hours a day to keep you safe and stop those who are committing offences. We value our neighbourhoods and are investing in increased local visibility to target what matters to you. Please come and talk to us if you have concerns or information. Together we can drive down crime.”

The deployment of facial recognition technology in public spaces remains a controversial topic nationally, but Essex Police say it is proving to be a valuable tool in identifying individuals wanted in connection with serious offences.

What is facial recognition and how is Essex Police using it?

Live Facial Recognition technology scans the faces of people walking past the cameras and compares them in real-time against a police database or ‘watch list’ of individuals who are wanted or pose a threat. If a match is made, officers on the ground are alerted and move in to stop the person while they make inquiries.

Essex Police began trialling Live Facial Recognition in 2023 and have since rolled it out regularly in selected high-footfall areas like city centres and transport hubs. The force says its use is intelligence-led and focused on identifying suspects involved in serious crime.

A spokesperson for Essex Police previously said the system “does not store or track data on members of the public” and that its use is “proportionate, legal and subject to oversight.”