Police use of facial recognition technology in the UK: what the public think
This report examines UK public opinion on police use of facial recognition technology, based on a survey of over 2,000 adults conducted in June 2025.
Carried out by King's College London's Policy Institute, in partnership with civil liberties organisation Liberty, the research provides insights into how the public view this increasingly prevalent surveillance technology.
The study explores multiple dimensions of public attitudes, including comfort levels with different applications of facial recognition, from retrospective analysis of CCTV footage to live surveillance systems deployed in public spaces. It examines public knowledge of current legal frameworks governing the technology's use, revealing significant gaps in awareness about the minimal regulation currently in place. The research also investigates which groups of people the public believes should be included on police watchlists and where they consider facial recognition appropriate to deploy.
Beyond measuring current attitudes, the report explores the factors that might change public opinion, exploring what developments could make supporters reconsider their position or convince opponents to become more accepting. It examines preferred safeguards and oversight mechanisms, including whether police should announce when the technology is being used, how errors should be reported, and what circumstances might justify its deployment.
The findings reveal a nuanced public perspective that balances security concerns with privacy rights, while highlighting important demographic differences in attitudes toward police surveillance technology.
This research provides essential baseline data for policymakers as they consider how to regulate facial recognition technology in law enforcement contexts.