Police: Biometrics
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services on plans to consider facial recognition as an assessment criteria for the PEEL legitimacy inspections.
Answered by Home Office
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assesses the operational performance of forces in England and Wales. HMICFRS operates independently of Government.
The Inspectorate’s Police Efficiency, Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) programme assesses all 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales against core areas of operational and organisational activity.
This framework is not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive, and HMICF The PEEL assessment criteria for the current cycle of inspections (2025-2027) were finalised in its PEEL Assessment Framework (PAF), which was published in April 2025 by HMICFRS after a consultation period with the sector.
RS consider new guidance, standards and research when made available.
HMICFRS are currently undertaking an inspection into police use of retrospective facial recognition (RFR), examining whether the use of RFR is efficient, effective, and legitimate.
The findings from this inspection are expected to be published in the Autumn.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →