Key Takeaways
- Metropolitan Police to deploy live facial recognition technology for Chelsea vs Tottenham match.
- Two vans will be used during a pre-match period with a watchlist of individuals.
- Watchlist includes those with Football Banning Orders and people wanted for serious offences.
The Metropolitan Police will deploy live facial recognition technology as part of its policing operation for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, according to the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST).
The CST, which is affiliated with the Football Supporters’ Association, received a communication from the police outlining the plans ahead of what the police described as a ‘high-risk fixture’.
The technology will be deployed during a designated pre-match period, with two vans set to be used at Earl’s Court and West Brompton.
The watchlist for the facial recognition technology will include individuals subject to Football Banning Orders linked to either club, as well as people wanted for serious offences, missing persons, and those sought under warrants issued by HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
The CST posted the details of the planned deployment on X, a social media platform, to inform the fans.
The move comes as part of the police’s enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of all attendees at the match.
Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police have not yet responded to Reuters for comment.
The CST’s statement highlights the importance of transparency in the use of such technology, ensuring that fans are aware of the measures in place to protect them.
The deployment of this technology is part of a broader strategy to enhance security and prevent potential incidents at high-risk fixtures.
