February 05, 2026 | Operational Policing, Investigations and Events , Forensics
Request Number: FOI/16627
Category: Operational policing, Investigations and Events - Forensics
Subject: Protests and Facial Recognition
Request and Answer:
Question 1
I am writing to request information under the FOI Act. Please provide information for the past 2 years:
An Excel spreadsheet detailing all any deployments of live facial recognition technology to protests in the past 3 years. Please include the date, approximate location, what technology was used (cameras, algorithms) number of matches, number of arrests following identification, what suspected crime any arrests were for, and details of any charges/referrals to CPS following successful identification and arrest at protests.
Question 2
An Excel spreadsheet detailing all instances where footage of protests captured by police officers has been analysed by retrospective facial recognition technology. Please include the date and approximate location the footage was taken, the brand and model of camera or device the footage was taken on, any matches, whether those matches were against a local database or the police national database, what suspected crime any arrests resulting from matches were for, and any charges/referrals to CPS
Question 3
An Excel spreadsheet detailing any instances of arrests following identification with operator-initiated facial recognition at protests. Please include the date, approximate location, what software or algorithm was used, the suspected crimes for which people were arrested, and if those crimes were charged/ referred to the CPS.
Answer
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act We can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold information in relation to request.
Enquiries made in relation to your request failed to locate any records or documents relevant to your request based on the information you have provided. Enquiries were made with the relevant business area who has confirmed there are no records in relation to your request as PSNI do not use Live Facial Recognition and have never analysed “footage of protesters captured by police officers” using Facial Recognition Technology. PSNI do not have any Operator initiated facial recognition capabilities.
Accordingly, we have determined that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold the information to which you seek access.