Suffolk Police to trial facial recognition in Ipswich town centre

Why it matters: The trial marks Suffolk Police's latest use of surveillance technology to protect the public, with the force borrowing two vans and equipment from Essex Police for the operation.

How it works: The technology compares live camera feeds against a predetermined database of people of interest:

• Scans take less than a second
• Images of people not on the watchlist are immediately deleted
• When there's a match, officers will verify the person's identity and take appropriate action

What they're saying: Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: "This technology has been proven elsewhere to be an effective tactic for locating and arresting suspects that are wanted for serious offences.

"People in Ipswich on Saturday, 22 February, should feel reassured that we are only looking for those individuals who have committed serious offences."

For context: Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore cited successful trials elsewhere in the country: "Trials elsewhere in the country, such as in Croydon, have had a very positive impact on reducing levels of crime and improving detection rates."

The bottom line: Suffolk Police emphasises that public privacy is a priority, with ACC Bridger confirming that images of members of the public who are not on watchlists will not be stored.