In a significant overhaul of policing in the UK, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to expand the use of live facial recognition technology, increasing the number of specialized vans from 10 to 50. The initiative, revealed during a session in the House of Commons, is part of a broader reform aimed at modernizing law enforcement methods to address the evolving nature of crime.
The expanded fleet of live facial recognition vans will be managed by a new national center focused on artificial intelligence (AI). These vehicles are designed to identify individuals on police watchlists, assist in locating missing persons, and act as a deterrent against criminal activities. Mahmood criticized current policing practices, stating that many forces are “fighting crime in a digital age with analogue methods.”
The reforms also include the establishment of a National Police Service (NPS), often referred to as the “British FBI,” which will streamline the current 43 police forces across England and Wales. This restructuring seeks to consolidate resources and capabilities to better tackle serious crime. Mahmood emphasized that the government will invest over £140 million in new technologies to enhance policing efficiency.
In her address, Mahmood highlighted the importance of deploying AI tools to reduce the administrative burden on officers, enabling them to spend more time in the community rather than behind desks. She announced that all police forces in England and Wales would receive AI resources, which are intended to free officers from routine tasks and allow them to focus on frontline duties.
In addition to the rollout of facial recognition technology, the White Paper on police reform details an increase in personnel, specifically the hiring of 13,000 additional neighborhood officers by 2029. Mahmood outlined plans to introduce a new “licence to practice” for officers, aimed at enhancing professional standards and restoring public trust in law enforcement.
As crime has increasingly moved into digital realms, the government plans to bolster police ranks with more specialists in digital forensics and cybercrime, as well as personnel equipped to address criminal networks operating on the dark web. “Crime has evolved, but police forces haven’t,” Mahmood stated, asserting that fraudsters and organized crime leaders have outpaced traditional policing methods.
The NPS will incorporate existing entities such as the National Crime Agency and Counter Terror Policing into a unified organization designed to tackle serious crime more effectively. The establishment of this new service will begin this year, with full operational capabilities expected in the next parliamentary session. A review is planned to evaluate how many regional forces may be merged, with potential changes anticipated before the next election.
However, the reforms have faced criticism from the opposition. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp expressed concerns that the plans do not adequately address falling police numbers, noting that current staff levels are declining under the Labour government. He claimed that the proposed mergers could lead to larger police forces, which may become disconnected from the communities they serve. “A reduction from 43 down to 10 or 12 forces could mean that a single police force might cover vast areas, making it difficult to address local needs effectively,” Philp argued.
In response, Mahmood pointed to past Conservative policies that led to a reduction of 20,000 police officers, asserting that attempts to rectify those cuts have resulted in many officers being relegated to desk jobs. This situation, she stated, hampers effective community policing at a time when proactive measures are essential to combat rising crime rates.
The government’s focus on enhancing police capabilities through technology and streamlined operations is intended to create a more responsive and effective law enforcement system in the UK. As these reforms are implemented, the effectiveness of increased technological integration and the consolidation of police forces will be closely observed, particularly in relation to public safety and crime reduction.
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