South Wales Police has confirmed that its Live Facial Recognition (LFR) team will be operating in Neath and Swansea city centres this Thursday, March 19.
The technology will be used to help officers locate suspects, wanted individuals and high-risk missing people, as part of ongoing efforts to keep communities safe.
Police say the deployment will be clearly visible to the public, with marked vehicles and designated zones in place. Officers will also be on hand to speak with anyone who wants to learn more about how the technology works, with demonstrations available where possible.
Ahead of each deployment, a watchlist of individuals is created. This may include people who are wanted by police or those considered at risk of harm to themselves or others.
Cameras positioned in specific areas capture images which are then compared in real time against those on the watchlist. If a possible match is identified, an alert is generated and reviewed by an officer, who will then decide whether further action is needed.
South Wales Police has stressed that individuals who are not on a watchlist cannot be identified by the system.
The force also outlined how data is handled during the process. Images linked to alerts are deleted immediately after use, or within 24 hours. Any images and biometric data of people who do not trigger an alert are automatically and instantly deleted.
CCTV footage used alongside the system is retained separately for up to 31 days.
South Wales Police says it remains committed to transparency and encourages members of the public to engage with officers during the deployment if they have any questions or concerns.
