Rob Watts, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Corsight AI, shares real-world examples of how facial recognition could help police forces.

When it comes to the use of facial recognition in public safety, most police forces and intelligence agencies maintain a veil of secrecy.

The sensitivity and complexities of the technology often keep these discussions behind closed doors.  

However, Essex Police in the UK and the city of Santa Rosa in the Philippines have chosen a different path, openly sharing their experiences.

Their willingness to be transparent provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of facial intelligence technology.  

Essex Police: Tackling crime with Live Facial Recognition  

Essex Police, known for their progressive approach, recently deployed Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology with notable success.

As an example, at the Clacton Airshow the technology helped make three arrests and additional arrests were made in Southend shortly after, including for serious offenses like sexual assault.

The results demonstrate how LFR can be a force multiplier for law enforcement, providing a real-time edge in identifying individuals wanted for serious crimes or those under specific court conditions.  

The LFR system used by Essex Police is a product of collaboration between Digital Barriers and Corsight AI.

The technology provides officers with the ability to recognise faces in real-time, whether from fixed security cameras, body cameras, or vehicle-mounted systems.

By integrating Corsight AI’s advanced facial recognition engine with Digital Barriers’ secure, AI-based video codec, the system delivers high accuracy, even under challenging conditions like poor video quality or limited camera angles.  

This capability has become a vital part of the force’s toolkit.

The LFR deployment is not just about catching suspects; it also helps manage individuals with legal restrictions and protect vulnerable members of the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Pritchard explained that the technology is used to locate individuals involved in ongoing investigations, enforce court orders and deter potential criminals who might believe they can evade detection.  

Tony Porter, Corsight AI’s Chief Privacy Officer and former UK Surveillance Camera Commissioner, mentioned that Essex Police have gone to great lengths to ensure that the use of facial recognition adheres to strict privacy standards.

Images of individuals not flagged on a watchlist are deleted almost immediately, leaving no room for data retention beyond the immediate purpose of identification.

This level of transparency and commitment to ethical use is an example for other forces considering similar technologies.  

Enhancing public safety through facial intelligence  

While Essex Police focused on using facial recognition for identifying known individuals on watchlists, the Safe City initiative in Santa Rosa, Philippines, has expanded the use of facial intelligence to address a broader spectrum of public safety challenges.

Santa Rosa’s deployment goes beyond traditional applications, utilising real-time and retrospective analysis not only for finding wanted individuals but also for detecting unknown threats.  

Santa Rosa’s approach leverages Corsight AI’s technology to identify patterns and anomalies, even when the people involved are not previously known to authorities.

By analysing factors like frequency and duration of appearances in certain areas, the system can flag potential risks, such as sudden crowd gathering, suspicious behaviour near critical infrastructure or repeated visits to sensitive locations.

This ability to spot unusual activity has proven invaluable in preventing incidents before they escalate, enabling city authorities to respond quickly and effectively.  

Santa Rosa’s use of facial intelligence technology demonstrates the potential for a safe city model that is proactive rather than reactive.

By integrating real-time alerts and situational awareness into their public safety strategy, the city sets a high standard for cost-effective use of technology in enhancing security.  

Corsight AI: A new benchmark for facial intelligence  

The experiences of Essex Police and Santa Rosa Safe City showcase the versatility and effectiveness of facial intelligence technology in diverse environments.

In both cases, the focus has been on delivering real-world results while maintaining a strong commitment to privacy and ethical standards.

This approach marks a significant shift from the secretive reputation often associated with facial recognition, moving towards a more open and transparent use of the technology.  

At Corsight AI, we see these examples as a blueprint for the future of public safety.

The potential for facial intelligence goes far beyond simply identifying suspects from a watchlist.

By enabling real-time situational awareness and providing actionable insights even in complex scenarios, this technology offers a new level of capability to law enforcement and public safety agencies.

As seen in Essex and Santa Rosa, when used responsibly, facial intelligence can be a game-changer in making our communities safer.  

These real-world examples illustrate the promise of facial recognition technology when applied thoughtfully and transparently.

In a landscape where public safety challenges are growing more complex, the ability to quickly and accurately identify threats, both known and unknown, can make a significant difference.

By prioritising both effectiveness and ethical use, we can help shape a safer future for everyone.  

This article was originally published in the December Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.