Dispersal order and facial recognition in place in Chester this weekend
Cheshire Constabulary will deploy Live Facial Recognition technology in Chester city centre on Saturday 11 July.
Many Deeside and Flintshire residents cross into Chester at weekends for shopping, leisure and events, and the deployment coincides with Chester Races, which is expected to draw large crowds into the city.
The force said the technology will support officers in identifying people who are wanted by police, outstanding suspects, and those who pose a risk of harm to the public.
Cheshire Constabulary said the system alerts officers in real time if someone on a pre-approved watchlist passes through the scanned area.
The force said biometric data belonging to passers-by who do not match anyone on the watchlist is automatically and immediately deleted, and that officers must confirm a person’s identity before taking any action.
Officers will be signposting the technology throughout the city centre with visible signs, and information will also be shared online.
A separate dispersal order is in place from midday on Friday 10 July until midday on Sunday 12 July.
The order allows officers to direct a person to leave the area for up to 48 hours if they believe it will help prevent disorder.
Chief Inspector Darren Griffiths, the force lead for Facial Recognition, said the deployment would help ensure visitors, residents and businesses could go about their day safely.
He said: “Live Facial Recognition is a valuable tool that helps us keep people safe, particularly during large-scale events such as Chester Races, when we expect increased footfall in the city centre.”
Inspector James Wilson said the combination of hot weather and large crowds this weekend meant an increased police presence.
He said: “As well as an increased police presence, there will be a dispersal order in place which serves as an additional tactical option that allows us to directly combat anti-social behaviour head on, before it escalates.”
More information on Live Facial Recognition and the safeguards in place is available on the Cheshire Constabulary website.
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