Campaign calls for police to delete millions of mugshots

 Campaigners have called for the automatic deletion of police mugshots after figures revealed just 67 people asked forces to remove theirs from police databases.

Hundreds of thousands of people were given the green light to ask forces to erase photographs under a government review published last year. But figures indicate only a small number have lodged applications.

It followed concern from MPS, campaigners and watchdogs after police amassed millions of “custody images” – pictures of people following arrests.

There are around 21 million images on the Police National Database, 12.5 million of which have been added to a gallery that can be searched using facial recognition software.

People not convicted of any offence can request deletion of their image.

The figures were obtained from 37 out of 43 forces in England and Wales through Freedom of Information requests. Twelve forces received no applications.