Open consultation

Legal framework for using facial recognition in law enforcement

From:
Home Office
Published
4 December 2025

Summary

The government is launching a consultation to help develop a new legal framework for the use of facial recognition and similar technologies by law enforcement.

This consultation closes at

Consultation description

This consultation aims to ensure that the law keeps pace with technological developments and provides clear, consistent rules that the public can understand more easily, and that law enforcement can rely on as they increasingly use these technologies.

The consultation seeks views on a wide range of issues, including which technologies should be covered by the new framework - such as biometric, inferential, and object recognition tools - and which organisations it should apply to.

It also explores when and how these technologies should be used, what safeguards are necessary to protect privacy and other rights, and how to ensure their use is demonstrably proportionate to the seriousness of the harm being addressed.

See also:

Documents

Consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies

PDF, 533 KB, 33 pages

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Consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies (accessible)

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Ymgynghoriad ar fframwaith cyfreithiol newydd ar gyfer defnydd gorfodi’r gyfraith o fiometreg, adnabod wynebau a thechnolegau tebyg

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Options assessment: Consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies

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Equalities impact assessment: consultation on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies

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Ways to respond

Respond online

or

Email to:

fr-consultation@homeoffice.gov.uk

Write to:

Home Office
Data and Identity Directorate
1st Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Updates to this page

Published 4 December 2025

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