Report Summary
Issued 10 March 2026, this FOI response relates to live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Scotland for a policing purpose. Partial disclosure - some information not held.
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Response
The Scottish Police Authority has considered your request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).
Each part of your request is copied below along with the Authority’s response.
Confirmation of whether any live facial recognition (LFR) technology has been trialled, piloted, tested, procured, evaluated for feasibility, operationally deployed by or on behalf of Police Scotland.
The Authority can confirm that Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology has not been trialled, piloted, tested, procured, evaluated for feasibility or operationally deployed by or on behalf of Police Scotland.[1]
To assist, information available on our website outlines the Authority's current position on implementing LFR in Scotland and next steps. This confirms that a decision has not been made with regards to the use of LFR in Police Scotland - Live Facial Recognition: Update published 9 February 2026.
Copies of any Business cases, Feasibility studies, Procurement documents, Contracts, Memoranda of Understanding, Pilot project documentation relating to live or retrospective facial recognition technology.
The Authority does not hold any business cases, procurement documents, contracts, Memoranda of Understanding, or pilot project documentation relating to live facial recognition technology.1
To assist, information on the feasibility of a potential implementation of LFR by Police Scotland is available on the Authority’s website in a discussion paper on the Potential Adoption of Live Facial Recognition by Police Scotland.
Total expenditure (itemised by financial year) relating to Facial recognition systems, Biometric identification software, Associated database integration since 7 April 2020.
The Authority does not hold information relating to specific expenditure on any of the above technologies.
Information may be available by contacting Police Scotland at foi@scotland.police.uk
Copies of any Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments, or other formal risk assessments prepared in relation to facial recognition technology.
The Authority does not hold Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments, or other formal risk assessments prepared in relation to facial recognition technology.[2]
Copies of any internal policy or operational guidance documents governing:
Legal thresholds required prior to deployment Authorisation procedures Data retention periods Oversight and audit requirements.
A list of all external suppliers engaged in relation to facial recognition or biometric identification systems during this period.
The Authority does not hold internal policy or operational guidance documents. LFR technology has not been trialled, piloted, tested, procured, evaluated for feasibility or operationally deployed by or on behalf of Police Scotland.
To assist, we can advise that in early February 2026 the Authority published the current position on LFR in policing in Scotland and expectations in terms of governance of any potential future use of LFR. These can be accessed through the links below:
Live Facial Recognition: Update
Briefing: Use of LFR by Police Scotland
The Authority’s Policing Performance Committee has received updates from Police Scotland exploring the use of LFR. These can be accessed through the links below:
Live Facial Recognition - 10 December 2024
Live Facial Recognition Report - 10 June 2025
