Regulator raises concerns over Met's facial recognition cameras
The EHRC said it recognised the potential benefits of the technology in policing but was concerned that the Met's current policy breached key human rights protections and posed a threat to human rights.These include the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly, as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.Last month, the Met said the tech had enable it to arrest suspected offenders including alleged paedophiles, rapists and violent robbers, 773 of whom had been charged or a cautioned.The Met has announced plans to use the technology to police major events such as Notting Hill Carnival - a proposal which has proved divisive.Civil rights groups and privacy campaigners have consistently opposed LFRT, saying it invades people's privacy, and carries an unacceptable risk of misidentification.The Met has defended its use, however, saying it helps cut crime at a time when "money is tight."Currently, there is no specific domestic legislation regulating police use of live facial recognition tech.
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
As Epping case could bring migrant hotel use to an end – where else can asylum seekers go?
A High Court Judge ruled that asylum seekers can no longer be housed at a hotel in Epping that has been the site of multiple protests in recent weeks. Epping Forest District Council won an interim injunction to stop asylum seekers being hosted at The Bell Hotel, saying it had become a 'feeding ground for unrest.' The judgement requires all migrants currently housed in the hotel – around 140 men as of last month – to leave by 4pm on 12 September. The Home Office is responsible for asylum and protection in the UK, and must now find somewhere else for these people to go. Reacting to the ruling, it warned it would 'substantially impact' its ability to house asylum seekers across the UK. Home secretary Yvette Cooper had unsuccessfully attempted to have the council's case dismissed shortly before the ruling. Other councils have also shown an interest in following suit in the wake of the ruling. However, none have initiated legal proceedings similar to Epping. Most experts agree that housing asylum seekers in hotels is not appropriate for a number of reasons. Cost, overcrowding and community tensions are amongst of the most commonly cited reasons. Border security minister Angela Eagle said the government will 'continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns', adding: 'Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.' The case raises the question of where the asylum seekers currently in the Bell Hotel will need to go come September and, should the widespread use of migrant hotels come to an end, where all people currently housed in them can be placed instead. Hotels The latest Home Office figures show that there were 32,059 asylum seekers in UK hotels at the end of June, up eight per cent on the same point 12 months ago. This is down slightly on the previous quarter, however, and far lower than the peak of 56,000 in September 2023. There are also now fewer than 210 hotels in use, down from 400 in summer 2023. These hotels only make up around 35 per cent of all people in asylum accommodation, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) in May. But their cost is disproportionately expensive, making up 76 per cent of total government spending on asylum accommodation. And, as has been seen in recent months, they are also a hot-bed for protests which have oftentimes turned violent. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at Refugee Council said: 'Asylum hotels have become a flashpoint for tension in communities, cost billions to the taxpayer, and leave people trapped in limbo. Ending their use is in everyone's interest, but the Government's current plan to phase them out by 2029 is far too slow. We need to reform the accommodation system so that councils can house people in the community.' Housing Moving more asylum seekers into houses or flats is one possible alternative to the use of hotels. These could be provided by private landlords or social housing groups. Around 66,000 migrants were housed in these kind of properties by the end of December 2024, compared to 38,000 in hotels at the same time. The main criticism of this approach is that it will add more demand onto the UK's already stretched housing industry. In the private sector, rising rents are making living costs unaffordable for many households. Moving more asylum seekers into these properties – funded by the government – may push up rental prices further and create less availability for UK residents. However, housing more asylum seekers in social housing would possibly create issues for residents who are struggling most in that local authority. The waiting list for council housing reached over 300,000 in 2024 – if more migrants are moved into social housing, the already-long wait times may increase further. Mr Hussain said: 'Housing people in communities is cheaper and more effective than hotels or military sites. Local authorities already manage housing for other groups and know their local areas best, so they're well placed to provide accommodation.' 'Ultimately, the only way to end hotel use for good is to resolve asylum applications quickly and accurately so people can either rebuild their lives here or return home with dignity. This will cut costs and allow refugees to integrate into their new communities, contribute, and play their part in Britain.' Military bases and boats Military bases have been used to accommodate asylum seekers in the past, but their use attracted widespread criticism. In 2022, the Conservative government said it would use 'large sites' like ex-military facilities, as well as barges and ferries to reduce demand on asylum hotels. The only two sites still in use are Wethersfield Airfield in Essex and Napier Barracks in Kent. As of December 2024, there were only 735 migrants living between them. The government said in March that Napier Barracks would be closing after multiple allegations of poor conditions and criticism from MPs. It was also found that former home secretary Suella Braverman acted unlawfully in accommodating three asylum seekers at Wethersfield who argued they were living in 'prison-like' conditions. However, despite pledging to close Wethersfield in opposition, Labour is set to continue and even expand its use, increasing its capacity from 800 to 1,225 in July. Most agree that the use of boats is not a tenable or humane solution. The last people left the Dorset-moored Bibby Stockholm in November after fierce criticism against the 'migrant barge'. Student accommodation The government purchased former student accommodation in Huddersfield in 2023 with the purpose of housing asylum seekers. As of February 2025, the property was under development, according to the NAO. The 405-bed block of flats will hold a maximum of 670 people, the Home Office has said. There were reports that 168 students had planned to live in the building and were told they had to make alternative arrangements, although the government denied this. Using this kind of accommodation – already built for temporary use – may be a strong option to replace the use of hotels in the coming years. However, Kirklees Council said in March that there were issues it would like to see addressed before the plans go ahead. Council leader Cathy Scott said: "The Home Office needs to commit to engaging properly with the Huddersfield community on its plans as well as addressing the many important issues the council and its partners have put forward before the site becomes operational. She added: "In Kirklees, we have a strong record of supporting people who are fleeing persecution. But the system relies on trust and confidence. We do not believe the Home Office has done enough to build trust over the past six months. That's why we will continue to raise our concerns on behalf of local residents and communities."
The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Experienced skydiver fell 15,500ft to her death after relationship ended, coroner finds
An experienced skydiver deliberately fell to her death from 15,500ft the day after her relationship ended, an inquest heard. Jade Damarell, 32, did not deploy her main parachute or the reserve and switched off an automatic activation device (AAD) before she crashed onto farmland near the airfield at Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on April 27, the hearing was told. The marketing manager left instructions on the lock screen of her phone on how to access the handset and left notes and details of her finances in its Notes folder, the inquest at Crook Civic Centre, County Durham, was told. Coroner Leslie Hamilton gave a conclusion of suicide after finding that she had intended to take her own life that morning. Ms Damarell, who was born in Hong Kong and lived in Caerphilly, Wales, loved skydiving and had completed more than 500 jumps. The day before she died, she had completed six jumps safely and without issues. Dr Hamilton summarised a statement from her former partner, which stated that 'they had ended their relationship the night before'. The coroner did not go into further detail, except to say that they had met through a shared love of skydiving. Bryn Chaffe, co-owner of Sky-High Skydiving from where she jumped, gave a statement in which he said he saw Ms Damarrel eating toast in the base's cafe before she jumped, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A post-mortem found she died from blunt trauma injuries, and toxicological tests were negative for drink or drugs. Her GP reported that she was not on medication at the time. A report for the coroner by British Skydiving, which investigated her fatal freefall, found that all the equipment was in working order. Ms Damarell would normally wear a camera on her helmet, but did not have one on when she fell, the organisation said. She confirmed she had an AAD, which was designed to deploy a parachute if a certain speed or altitude was met, but it was later found she had switched it off. She was aware that she had to deploy a parachute before her altitude dropped below 2,500ft, the inquest heard. Detective Inspector Andrew Stephenson, of Durham Police, attended the scene and found Ms Damarell had landed on her back. He later recovered Ms Damarell's phone and found she had left instructions on its lock screen on how to open it and to look in its Notes folder. The detective's report said she left a note for her family 'apologising and thanking them for their support'. Dr Hamilton concluded that the 'very experienced' skydiver chose not to deploy either of her parachutes or use the AAD and that she did intend to take her own life. Jeff Montgomery, head of safety and training at British Skydiving, attended the hearing and said afterwards: 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jade Damarell and it is an extremely tragic incident.' Her parents, Liz and Andrew Samuel, observed the hearing remotely. After the inquest, her family said: 'Our beloved daughter Jade was a brilliant, beautiful, brave and truly extraordinary person. 'A bright, adventurous, free spirit, she lived with immense energy, passion and love and touched countless lives with her warmth and kindness.' If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of woman in Cardiff
A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in Cardiff, police said. Officers from South Wales Police were called to South Morgan Place in the Riverside area of the city at 7.37am on Thursday to reports of a seriously injured woman. Paramedics also attended the incident, and despite their best efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the force said. Detective Superintendent Mark O'Shea said: 'We have arrested one man in his 30s on suspicion of murder and we are not looking for anyone else in connection. 'Residents will notice an increased police presence in the area while we investigate.' Anyone with information is urged to contact the police. Speaking to the PA news agency, one neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: 'The police wouldn't tell me anything this morning. 'They asked me if I had seen anything, but I wasn't out of bed yet when it happened. 'It's a bit alarming, something like that happening so close to your house. 'I think this is the first time anything like this has happened round here that I can remember.' Another neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said the police had not told them anything about what had happened. She believed the incident had happened outside a block of flats, which had been cordoned off by the police.
