Police Scotland Charts Careful Path on Facial Recognition

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) are taking a deliberate, consultative approach to the possible use of live facial recognition (LFR). The effort has been framed as a “national conversation,” intended to weigh public attitudes before final decisions are made about deployment.

In a written reply, a Scotland Police spokesperson told Security Guys:

“The National Conversation was designed to capture the full range of views regarding the potential use of Live Facial Recognition technology by Police Scotland, in order to ensure a fully informed, proportionate, justifiable and explainable decision was taken on whether and how to use this technology.”

The consultation ran from April to May 2025, including a public survey, focus groups, and a stakeholder event. Responses were presented to the SPA Policing Performance Committee in June, followed by confirmation at the August board meeting that Police Scotland would move forward with developing LFR. A further update is scheduled at the September committee session, with policy papers and meetings livestreamed for transparency.

Officials have stressed that consultation is not a one-off step but an ongoing commitment. Police Scotland has pledged to embed public engagement in drafting the code of practice, operational policy, and safeguards that will govern any rollout. The process is being aligned with Scotland’s Rights Based Pathway framework, designed to ensure that ethics and human rights remain central.

The measured pace reflects recognition that adoption of biometric surveillance in policing must carry public trust. By placing transparency and proportionality at the forefront, Scotland is signaling that any operational benefits of LFR will be balanced by safeguards shaped with public input.

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