Would-be mayor plans facial recognition technology trial in York to cut crime

Keane Duncan is the Conservative mayoral candidate (Image: Pic supplied) Cutting-edge live facial recognition cameras could be deployed in York and North Yorkshire as early as this year, says would-be mayor Keane Duncan. Mr Duncan, who would take on the responsibilities of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner if elected as Mayor in May’s historic election, has announced plans for the new technology to be piloted in York, Harrogate and Scarborough.

Trials elsewhere in the country found the cameras can cut the time required to identify dangerous criminals and missing people from days and months to “just minutes”.

New technology is a key component of what the Conservative candidate calls his ‘back-to-basics’ approach to policing that he hopes will refocus North Yorkshire Police on the fundamentals of recording, fighting and preventing crime.