FOI Facial Recognition information (0651-2022/23)

Request

I write to request information and records under the FOIA in relation to your force's use of Facial Recognition, specifically:

Q1. A copy of any policy document outlining the use of Live Facial Recognition by your force

Q2. A copy of any policy document outlining the use of Retrospective Facial Recognition [other than the searching of custody images on the PND]

Q3. A copy of any policy document outlining the use of Operator Initiated Facial Recognition by your force

Q4. A copy of any policy document outlining the use of PND ""face searching"" of custody photos by your force

Q5. Any documents outlining any plans to trial, introduce or test any kind of facial recognition [Live, Retrospective, Operator Initiated] by your force

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.

 

Response

Decision

The information you have requested for Q1, 2, 3 & 5 is published on the North Yorkshire Police website under the following links;

FOI Facial Recognition Technology (0309-2021/22) | North Yorkshire Police

FOI Facial Recognition Technology (0765-2021/22) | North Yorkshire Police

FOI Facial Recognition (0377-2021/22) | North Yorkshire Police

FOI Facial Recognition (0084-2022/23) | North Yorkshire Police

 

I have therefore decided to exempt providing you with a response to questions 1,2,3 & 5 pursuant to Section 21 Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).

Q4. No information held.

Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.

 

Section 21 – Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means

Section 21 is an absolute class based exemption and I am not required to consider the harm or public interest when applying this exemption.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice in response to your request.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.