Policing minister promises a new law to rein in live facial recognition as the Met hails 3,000 arrests

Legislation establishing "parameters and principles" for live facial recognition is being promised by policing minister Sarah Jones, including an independent watchdog with the power to block police forces from deploying the technology. Jones confirmed the law would bar use for minor offences — "if I had an outstanding parking fine, I would not expect this technology to be used for that." The government says a public consultation found Britons "by and large" support the cameras but want stronger proportionality guarantees.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, a senior Met officer, is separately pushing for a national facial recognition watchlist shared between forces to catch serious offenders across borders.

Privacy group Big Brother Watch warns the technology "is treating everyone who walks by as a suspect by default."

Fixed cameras are planned for parts of London's West End and Soho, expanding beyond the mobile vans currently used.