British Transport Police (BTP) has begun a six‑month trial of live facial recognition technology at London bridge and other stations. The technology is controversial with many objecting on the basis of civil and democratic rights, and others on the basis that it is prone to error, with potentially severe impacts for the individual.

BTP says that in using the technology, it seeks to make the railways a hostile place for serious criminals on a watch list, so helping to keep the public safe. Dates and locations of live facial recognition will be published in advance on the website.  If people want to avoid the recognition areas there will be alternative routes to follow. Images of people not on the authorised database will be deleted immediately. And the public can provide feedback via QR codes displayed on posters.