Automated capabilities such as lip-reading and gait-analysis could be introduced in CCTV systems

Britain is at risk of becoming a surveillance state more intrusive than the Oceania of George Orwell’s 1984, a government watchdog has warned.

Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner, said that the benefits of new camera-based technologies for crime prevention and public safety could blind officials to the need to protect “a free and open society”.

The comments come amid growing criticism of the use by police and landowners of facial recognition software to try to identify criminals and terrorism suspects. However, Mr Porter said that facial recognition was “almost so yesterday” compared with other automated capabilities that could be introduced in CCTV systems. These included lip-reading and gait-analysis capabilities.

How facial recognition technology works

He told the Evening Standard: “Given that it is capable of being as