Southend sexual assault arrest thanks to facial recognition

Officers used the technology in the seafront and High Street on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, which was the second deployment since Essex Police purchased the technology.

As a result, there were five positive alerts which resulted in two arrests – one for harassment and one for sexual assault.

In the other instance, a voluntary interview was arranged.

Facial recognition vans in Southend High Street (Image: Essex Police)

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: “This was another successful deployment where we’ve been able to bring suspects into custody and progress our investigations.

“With five arrests from our first two deployments, we’ve seen live facial recognition technology can be an effective tool in finding people we want to speak to.

“This technology is an investment in our communities.

“It’s an effective way of finding people we want to speak to and keeping the public safe, as our first two deployments have shown.

Two arrests were made thanks to the technology (Image: Essex Police)

“This technology can be a more efficient use of resources than having officers undertaking various time-consuming enquiries to locate them.

“It means those officers are able to do other work to protect and help the public, and further investigations.

“Cutting edge technology is playing an important role in protecting the public, responding to and investigating crimes, and getting justice for victims.

“Criminals cannot think that they can walk around our communities without being caught.”

Officers use the technology to find people wanted for serious offences, to help enforce orders against those whose faces are put on a ‘watch list’ and to protect those who are vulnerable and at risk of harm.

Anyone whose face is not on the watch list, the technology deletes their image in a fraction of a second. It is not retained and it’s not stored on a database.