Police are to deploy live facial recognition vans at a shopping centre in Bracknell as part of an operation to identify suspects and deter crime.
Thames Valley Police’s specialist Live Facial Recognition (LFR) team will be at The Lexicon on Tuesday, working alongside local officers.
The force said the technology would be used to help identify people wanted by police and prevent crime.
Police said they routinely announce when the vans are being used so the public is aware of their presence.
The force also acknowledged that announcing deployments could mean some people choose to avoid the area, but said the technology could still act as a deterrent.
“Preventing crime is just as important as catching those who break the law,” the force said.
Members of the public will also be able to speak to officers about how the technology works.
Police said the specialist team would be available to explain how live facial recognition is used “fairly and responsibly”.
The deployment comes as part of Thames Valley Police’s wider use of LFR technology to identify people on police watchlists.
The force has said the technology is used alongside human decision-making, with officers making the final decision about whether someone identified by the system should be stopped or spoken to.
