Permanent facial recognition cameras to be installed on Oxford Street by Christmas

Live facial recognition cameras will be installed in London’s Oxford Street in December, meaning thousands of Christmas shoppers will have their faces scanned by the technology.

One of the busiest shopping areas in the world, Oxford Street has about half a million visitors every day.

Human rights groups have widely criticised the rollout of LFR, described by one organisation as “unregulated”.

The Press Association understands the technology will likely be installed in December, and could be mounted on street furniture such as lampposts.

The street will be among the first areas in the UK to have permanent, live facial recognition (LFR) installations that scan people passing through and compare them with a watchlist of wanted suspects.

The move to introduce LFR comes as Oxford Street is due to be pedestrianised next week, with plans in place for the entire street to become traffic-free in time.

The Metropolitan Police has plans to use static LFR cameras in London’s West End and Soho – two areas with some of the highest crime rates in London.

The Government began a public consultation in December 2025 to create a legal structure for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and other similar technologies.

The Home Office is due to publish a response to that consultation later this Parliamentary session.

Director of human rights organisation Liberty Akiko Hart told the Press Association the introduction of the technology on Oxford Street would mean “thousands of Christmas shoppers will have their faces scanned by this unregulated surveillance technology without being given a choice”.

“Despite a public consultation on facial recognition closing in February, the Government has yet to publish its response. Yet permanent facial recognition cameras are set to be installed in one of the country’s busiest destinations without a legal framework to protect the public’s rights.

“This lack of transparency damages public trust.”

She called for a pause in the rollout of the technology until clear laws, proper safeguards and independent oversight were in place.

A Met spokesperson said LFR was “an important tool which is helping us keep London safe”.

“Static cameras have already been piloted in Croydon for six months and contributed to a 10 per cent reduction in crime and led to 173 arrests – one every 35 minutes. Considering this success, the public would rightly expect us to look at how we can use technology to keep the busiest parts of our capital safe.

“It is important to note that static systems are only turned on when officers are present on the ground, and signs will make it clear to the public that a deployment is taking place.

“Conversations remain ongoing with our partners on where we will place the cameras.”

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has described LFR as “one of the most revolutionary technology advances in policing in recent years”, with the force arresting more than 2,000 people using facial recognition since the start of 2024.

A rollout of the technology has also begun at London’s Tube stations.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has thrown her support behind the expansion of LFR.

Speaking at the Police Federation annual conference on Thursday, she said: “We will expand live facial recognition so that instead of spending hours and hours crawling through CCTV, you’ll get a match in seconds.”