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Set and Enforce Clear Lines for Police Biometrics, UK Commissioner Tells Policymakers

UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner William Webster has submitted a 16‑page response to the Home Office’s consultation on a new legal framework for police use of facial recognition and other biometric technologies. He urges lawmakers to define “serious harm,” “intrusiveness,” and law‑enforcement purposes, and to grant an independent regulator pre‑approval authority, audit powers and resources. The proposal also calls for extending oversight to private entities conducting law‑enforcement functions, such as immigration enforcement, and merging existing regulators for stronger oversight. Webster frames the consultation as a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to balance innovation with public confidence.