The man was fined £90 for pulling his jumper up over his chin and mouth (Picture: BBC Click)

A man was fined £90 for refusing to show his face to police trialling new facial recognition software.

The man pulled his jumper up above his chin as he walked past Met Police officers trialling Live Facial Recognition software in east London.

BBC cameras filmed as officers swooped on the man, told him to ‘wind his neck in’ then handed him the hefty penalty charge.

A campaigner from Big Brother Watch – who were protesting the use of cameras on the day – was also filmed telling an officer: ‘I would have done the same.’


Police said they made three arrests thanks to the cameras on the day in question and a total of eight people, including two 14-year-old boys, were arrested during the course of the trial.



Those against the move argue the cameras are a breach of privacy.

In the video the man, who has not been named, explains how he was pulled over by an officer who ‘got his back up’.

Sorry, this video isn't available any more.

He told the BBC: ‘I spoke to a man who said, there’s facial recognition down there, so – it’s a cold day – I’ve [pulled my jumper over my mouth] and gone.

‘Police officer’s asked me to come over so I’ve got my back up.

‘I basically told him to f*** off. I said I don’t want my face shown on anything.

‘If I want to cover my face, I’ll cover my face.

‘It’s not for them to tell me not to cover my face.

‘So now I’ve got a £90 fine. Well done.’

The Home Office has previously said facial recognition can be an ‘invaluable tool’ in fighting crime.

But campaigners say that as there is no legislation for it in the UK, it is being used without regulation.

The man said he did not want his face to be on camera anywhere (Picture: BBC Click)

Protesters say there is no legislation to regulate the use of facial recognition (Picture: BBC Click)

In the footage, the man is seen cornered by a group of officers, telling them: ‘If I want to cover my face I will, don’t push me over when I’m walking down the street.

‘How would you like it if you walked down the street and someone grabbed you?’

He is told by an officer: ‘Wind your neck in.’

A concerned witness asks another officer: ‘What’s your suspicion?’

He tells her: ‘The fact he walked past clearly marked signs for facial recognition and he has covered his face.’

She responds: ‘I would do the same. I would do the same.’

When he tells her it gives police ‘just grounds to stop him’ she says in shock: ‘No it doesn’t.’

The Met Police van with cameras was used in a trial in February in Romford (Picture: BBC Click)

The trial was deemed a success by the Met and led to eight arrests (Picture: BBC Click)

The incident occurred during a trial in February and the Met says the public will always be well informed before a trial is due to take place.

A Met Police spokesman said at the time: ‘The technology is being used in Romford as part of the Met’s ongoing efforts to reduce crime in the area, with a specific focus on tackling violence.



‘All the faces on the database to be used during the deployment are of people wanted by the Met and the courts.

‘For this deployment, a number of large posters have been displayed and officers continue to distribute leaflets to help ensure we effectively engage with the public and make them aware of the “overt” deployment.’

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