Premier League Funds Facial Recognition for Matches

The Premier League invests £3.42 million for live facial recognition trials at matches, enhancing security for fans attending games in London.

The Metropolitan Police has received a £3.42 million funding boost from the Premier League to implement live facial recognition technology during high-profile football matches in London. This funding is part of a broader £10 million initiative aimed at enhancing public safety at sporting events, first announced in December 2021.

The facial recognition system is not entirely new to the Met, having already been used in six prior Premier League fixtures, including both north London derby games last season. The funding will now allow for the technology to be tested on a match-by-match basis, depending on the specific operational intelligence available at the time.

The Premier League’s funding initiative states that the goal is to test live intelligence-led facial recognition as a means to identify and mitigate serious offenders from attending matches. This pilot program builds on previous deployments observed at major events across the capital.

As per the operational directives, decisions on which matches will deploy this facial recognition technology are yet to be announced for the upcoming season. It was first implemented on September 24, 2023, during the Arsenal versus Tottenham match.

The funding approved for the Met is specifically earmarked for these matchday facial recognition tests under regulations granted by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). This allows them to utilize funding for operational enhancements.

The facial recognition technology will be able to identify various individuals, including those under football banning orders and others wanted for violent crimes against women and children. Each deployment will require explicit operational justification that must be approved by a Met officer of superintendent rank.

Moreover, supporters will be informed through visible signage when entering areas where this technology is active, ensuring transparency rather than covert operations. Images captured that don’t match anyone on the police’s watchlist will be deleted immediately to maintain privacy.

The Met’s existing policy on live facial recognition will direct how watchlists are composed for football matches, ensuring no new criteria are introduced in this policing effort.

Sources indicate that relevant Premier League clubs and the Football Supporters’ Association have been consulted on this program and will continue to engage as it develops further.