EU and UK Governments Crack Down on Digital Identity Verification with Age Assurance Legislation
UK Police Seek Increased Budget to Expand Facial Recognition Use
In light of their plans to expand the use of facial recognition technology, the UK's police force has suggested the need for more funding. Currently, the total police funding for England and Wales in 2025-26 stands at £19.6 billion, with £13.6 billion coming from central government and the remainder sourced through council tax precepts.
As part of a broader initiative to improve policing efficiency and technology integration, the government is proactively carrying out police reforms. These reforms, under the Safer Streets mission, aim to increase police numbers, enhance technology utilization, and address waste and inefficiencies.
However, specific funding allocated for the acquisition and implementation of facial recognition technology has not been explicitly detailed. The government has earmarked funds for crime hotspot interventions, such as the Hot Spot Action Fund (£66.3 million for 2025/26) and additional funding for rural and wildlife crime units, but there is no mention of facial recognition technology in these initiatives.
In instances where policing is devolved, as seen in Northern Ireland, funding is apportioned through the Barnett formula, separate from England and Wales. It is worth noting that the overall emphasis seems to be on improving policing efficiency and technology integration as part of ongoing reforms, with facial recognition technology being one component within this wider focus.
- The expansion of facial recognition technology use by UK's police force has raised questions about the allocation of funds for this specific purpose, given the ongoing police reforms focusing on technology utilization and efficiency under the Safer Streets mission.
- Cybersecurity concerns surrounding facial recognition technology in the context of general-news and political discussions are increasingly significant, as the technology's integration into policing continues to evolve, without explicit funding detail in the government's announced reforms and crime interventions.
