Police at Elvis festival using new technology to keep peace
TROUBLEMAKERS heading to this year’s Elvis Festival could be in for some Jailhouse Rock – after police announced the use of special facial recognition technology at this year’s event.
South Wales Police said they will be using the tool in Porthcawl this weekend after its success at the Champions League Final in Cardiff.
The force said the facial recognition technology will hold a watch list of individuals who are wanted on warrant or those that officers would like to speak to in connection to outstanding offences.
The list will also include photos of individuals who have caused problems, or been arrested, at the Elvis Festival in previous years.
Officers hope it will help them to prevent offences and anti-social behaviour.
Inspector Scott Lloyd said: “The facial recognition technology is just one of the tools that we will be using to help with preventing crime and disrupting anti-social behaviour at the event.
“The watch list will hold photos of individuals who have been arrested at previous Elvis events.
“The aim is that once spotted, our officers will engage with these individuals on a one-to-one level and highlight that we want them to enjoy the festival without causing the issues that they may have been involved in during previous years.”
Chief Inspector Jason Herbert, operations manager for Bridgend, added: “The facial recognition software provides us with the ability to help detect any risk more efficiently than relying on standard CCTV. It will also assist our officers on the ground in identifying early opportunities to prevent crime and reduce the potential for anti-social behaviour.
“We are very aware of concerns about privacy and we have built in checks and balances into our methodology to reassure the public that the approach we take is justified and proportionate.
“We have had detailed discussions with all interested regulatory partners to ensure that the deployment of this technology is proportionate whilst recognising the need to balance security and privacy.”
The use of facial recognition technology was one of a raft of security measures introduced in Cardiff for the Uefa Champions League Final in June. The massive sporting event – which took place amid heightened security in the wake of the deadly Manchester Arena bombing – passed without incident.
The extra security measures introduced to the city included four different checks for fans entering the stadium, security gates around the city centre and bans on types of transport.