Independent report

Facial recognition technology tests: National Physical Laboratory

Independent testing of facial recognition algorithms commissioned by the Home Office.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 4 December 2025

Documents

Summary: accuracy and equitability evaluation of Cognitec FaceVACS-DBScan ID v5.5

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Report: accuracy and equitability evaluation of Cognitec FaceVACS-DBScan ID v5.5

PDF, 487 KB, 24 pages

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Summary: accuracy and equitability evaluation of Idemia facial recognition algorithm for Home Office strategic facial matching

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Report: accuracy and equitability evaluation of Idemia facial recognition algorithm for Home Office strategic facial matching

PDF, 519 KB, 28 pages

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Details

The Home Office, in collaboration with the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser (OPCSA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), commissioned independent testing of the:

• facial recognition (FR) algorithm which is currently used by specially trained operators in all police forces to search the Police National Database (PND)
• facial recognition algorithm which is intended to be used within a new national facial matching service

Published 4 December 2025