Informed 07


likelihood of legal failures and undermine public confidence in its use,” she has writen. “[My] key recommendation is [for the] government to introduce a statutory and binding code of practice on the deployment of live facial recognition.” Notwithstanding these concerns, SWP’s


“facial recognition vans” have become a familiar sight at sporting events, concerts and demonstrations in Cardiff. And the Welsh experience is not unusual. In Leicestershire similar kit was used to check fans at a heavy metal festival against a Europol database. Meanwhile the Metropolitan police surveilled the crowds on Remembrance Sunday to try to weed out stalkers and people with mental health issues.


In London the private landlords of the


development behind King’s Cross station were given access to the Met Police facial recognition database to scan shoppers’ faces. Tis scheme was abandoned aſter a public outcry. Similar technology is also thought to be in use in the Irish Republic. Te Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 specifically commited to its use. SWP makes a robust defence of the use


of automated facial recognition, both in public and it court. Chief Inspector Jason Herbert, Operations Manager for Bridgend says: “Facial recognition soſtware helps detect risk more efficiently than standard CCTV. Officers on the ground can also identify early opportunities to prevent crime and reduce anti-social behaviour. We are very aware of concerns about privacy and we have built checks and balances into our methodology to reassure the public.” SWP says that it is searching for


individuals on a “watch list” drawn up specifically for each event. At the 2017 Elvisfest, for example, there were 472 names on the list. All were either “suspected of crimes in South Wales, or had outstanding arrest warrants”, says Deputy Chief Constable Richard Lewis. Te compiling and sign off for this list is made wherever possible by the most senior officer on the ground at the event


(in police jargon, the Silver Commander). According to SWP’s own operational manual, however, there is no systematic process for review or inspection of that list by more senior officers, or anyone else. Te NUJ will campaign for proper


regulation, including safeguards for journalism, of facial recognition technology (as well as other second- generation biometrics such as voice and iris recognition). As soon as a new NUJ all- party Parliamentary Group has convened, this will be on its agenda. Members can raise the absence of regulation with candidates in the general election. In the meantime, however, an academic


evaluation of SWP’s experience with facial recognition provides some pointers for journalists who wish to avoid their encounters being the subject of CCTV scrutiny and facial recognition. Te researchers found that the system used by British police forces, NeoFace, manufactured by NEC, had some clear shortcomings. Low light forces the camera’s sensors to use higher ISO setings (increasing their sensitivity), and produces images too grainy for effective analysis. Hats with brims, scarves and sunglasses also reduced the system’s capacity for recognition.


Te efficaciousness of self-adhesive side burns, quiff wigs and rhinestone belts as disguise were not specifically considered by the academics. It is worth noting, however, that in 2019 SWP deployed two facial recognition vans for both days of the Porthcawl Elvisfest, and managed to identify not one person from their watch lists, nor did they make any arrests. Perhaps had the constables concentrated on the music instead of their surveillance screens they could have enjoyed themselves rather more and avoided the very trap warned of by the King himself – suspicious minds.


LDR progress Te NUJ’s Local Democracy Reporters Chapel is sufficiently organised that recognition should now be a formality. Joint FoCs Neil McGrory and David Spereall report that the NUJ now has LDR members all over the country and that a formal request for recognition has been submited. Te NEC recorded its thanks for their collective efforts in spearheading this work.


Press cards for community journalists Te National Executive will take a motion to April’s Delegate Meeting that, if passed would enable the creation of new Community Press cards for Associate Members of the NUJ who report for community publications. Te proposal has been welcomed by the board of Cardiff University’s Centre For Community Journalism. Te initiative


is one response to a motion adopted at the 2018 DM that called for closer working between the union, community journalists and their representatives. Te paper adopted by the NEC stipulates that the design of any new cards should be clearly distinct from the design of the United Kingdom Press Card Authority press card to which only professional newsgatherers are entitled.


Michael Bryan / Alamy Stock Photo


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