The Metropolitan Police will install permanent facial recognition cameras in Croydon, marking the first use of this technology for high street surveillance in the UK. Rebecca Vincent from Big Brother Watch expressed concern, calling it a "worrying escalation" in the use of live facial recognition without oversight or a legislative framework. Chris Philp, Conservative MP for Croydon South, voiced strong support, asserting that this technology will prevent wanted criminals from freely roaming town and city centers. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police defended the initiative, emphasizing the force's commitment to making London safer by using data and technology to identify offenders who pose a risk to communities.