Police to use facial recognition near Boardmasters festival

Police in Cornwall have announced plans to use facial recognition near Boardmasters. This year’s event which kicks off in Newquay, from today (August 5) until Sunday (August 9) will see headline performances from Lily Allen, Kasabian and Fatboy Slim. Ahead of the bash, live facial recognition (LFR) tools will be used by Devon and Cornwall Police in the town of Newquay but not at the festival site at Watergate Bay, reports BBC News. The aim is to try to reduce the risk of violence against women and girls, organised serious crime, identify sexual offenders and prevent illegal drugs being brought into the county. Images of people who are not of interest will be “automatically and permanently deleted within seconds” and police will not retain the data, officers said. “It’s really important that we work with our communities and work with people in the festival to help prevent crime, help mitigate safeguarding risks and help make it an enjoyable event for everybody,” Supt Vicky Howell, police event commander, told BBC News. Say hello to your first Boardmasters 2026 acts.@FatboySlim @KasabianHQ @LoyleCarner @thekooksmusic 👉 Presale starts Thurs 27th November 10am ⚠️ Sign up before Weds 26...