British Transport Police start four-month facial recognition trial at Victoria station

British Transport Police began a four-month live facial recognition trial at Victoria Underground station on 11 August, just under six weeks after the London Assembly voted 14 to 3 to support use of the technology.

Transport for London's release states that the system scans faces in real time against an authorised British Transport Police watchlist, and that images of people who do not match are deleted immediately.

The release states that the force will use the technology at selected TfL stations chosen from intelligence and crime data, with TfL support. Signs will mark the areas where it operates, so passengers can make an informed choice.

TfL's Underground runs 11 lines over 402km and serves 272 stations, handling up to 5 million passenger journeys a day, according to its own account of the network. The release names Victoria as the first station and does not list the others.

The Assembly agreed its motion on 2 July, moved by Emma Best AM, by 14 votes for and 3 against.

The Assembly's release on the day states that it "has today stated its support for LFR, when deployed lawfully and transparently, and has called on the Mayor and the Met Commissioner to reassure London Boroughs on the advancement of LFR technology".

Neither Assembly release names the three members who voted against, and neither gives their reasons.

The motion cites the technology as having "led to more than 2,100 arrests in London". It states that three million faces were scanned in 2025, with "just 12 false alerts and no false arrests".

Kaya Comer-Schwartz, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said in TfL's release: "Facial recognition technology is already helping the Met get wanted criminals off the streets."

Chief Superintendent Chris Casey of British Transport Police said: "Our focus remains on protecting the public, preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice, while ensuring the technology is used lawfully, proportionately and transparently."

Siwan Hayward, TfL's director of security, policing and enforcement, said: "Everyone should be able to travel without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence."

The Mayor has not said publicly whether he has written to the boroughs. The recent releases on his press index, checked on 14 August, cover exam results, the heat, renters' rights, basketball investment and youth safety, and none covers facial recognition or letters to borough councils.

TfL's release gives no cost for the trial and names no funder. It states that the trial runs for four months, that TfL has commissioned independent research into how safe passengers feel, and that an evaluation follows the trial's completion.