Facial recognition on south Essex high street results in three arrests
FACIAL recognition technology deployed on Grays High Street has resulted in three arrests for wanted pedestrians.
The technology was used by Essex Police on Friday and saw two vans scanning the faces for database matches.
In the past, the force has been keen to explain the details of the technology, including how it automatically and immediately deletes the faces of people it is not looking for.
We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at https://bit.ly/4eGOxig to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone.
The arrests made on Friday as a result of the use of facial recognition software on Grays High Street included a man wanted for theft and a woman for assault.
A statement from Essex Police said: "Officers from Thurrock's Neighbourhood Policing Team and Operation Support Group teamed up Friday 25 April to deploy Facial Recognition on Grays High Street.
Technology - Facial recognition was used on Grays High Street on Friday (Image: Essex Police) "Our officers were out in force on Grays High Street between 10am and 5pm, ensuring your safety and catching wanted individuals and missing persons.
"With two vans and advanced facial recognition technology, we made three arrests for wanted individuals and had over 50 positive interactions with the public."
Live facial recognition technology, such as that being used on Grays High Street is reliant on making matches with those already in Essex Police's database.
Following the successful use of facial recognition in Southend last October, a spokesperson for the force said: "The technology utilises CCTV camera feeds to LFR software to scan faces against a predetermined database or 'watch list' of people of interest.
'The scanning of an image takes less than a second. The data/image of those not on the watchlist is automatically and immediately deleted and not stored.
'When there is a positive match, appropriate action will be taken by officers on the ground to confirm ID and then assess what the next action is to be taken.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman jailed for sharing baby monkey torture videos
A Scottish mother-of-two involved in a global monkey torture network has been jailed for more than two years. Natalie Herron, 39, from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, joined online chat groups which encouraged torture of macaques by offenders based in Indonesia. Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how she became a group administrator for the network, which was exposed by a BBC investigation, and shared hundreds of images and videos of the abuse. The group paid for baby long-tailed macaques to be taken from their mothers in Indonesia before they were tortured and killed. WARNING: This article contains distressing details of animal torture. The acts of cruelty included crucifixion, machete attacks and one video that showed a baby monkey being dipped in boiling oil. The court heard how Herron had made contact online with Michael Macartney, the US-based ringleader of the network who used the alias "The Torture King". Global monkey torture ring exposed by BBC This is the first time someone has been sentenced in Scotland for cruelty that took place abroad. Investigators from the National Crime Agency alerted Police Scotland and a raid on Herron's home in 2022 discovered an iPhone with 1,084 images and videos of monkey torture. Investigators discovered 4,000 messages on a WhatsApp group which had been sent by Herron discussing torture and hatred of the animals. Messages included one that said: "I am shocked how easily the drill went through the skull, it was like butter." Another message read: "Trying to find a video where they will kill the mum and the babies watch." Herron was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. She had earlier admitted two charges of possessing and distributing obscene material, namely videos depicting animal torture, between October 2021 and September 2022 at her home address. She admitted a further charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm by sending messages to various online and social media groups which described and promoted animal torture. The court was told she made payments to Macartney but she claimed it was not for the videos but to "help him". Members of the online group, who claimed they were angered at the monkeys destroying land in Indonesia, voted on proposed methods of torture. Nicky Matteo, defending, said: "In all the years I have been practising I have not seen a case like this. It has not been a pleasant experience. "She [Herron] has had horrific problems in life and she built up a connection with other group members. "She was trying to ingratiate herself with other members, it was a false sense of escapism. "She is no longer the person that was responsible for sending those messages. She recognises the severity of it." Sentencing Herron, Sheriff Derek Livingston said: "The fact you not only joined these groups but then helped to facilitate them only helped to increase the animals' suffering." The BBC investigation uncovered the network that began life on YouTube before it moved to private groups on the messaging app Telegram. Macartney, 51, was jailed last year after pleading guilty in the US state of Virginia to conspiracy to create and distribute animal cruelty videos. He was sentenced to three years and four months in jail. A month later, Adriana Orme, 56, from Upton-upon-Severn, and Holly Le Gresley, 37, from Kidderminster, were jailed after admitting being part of the global network. Police Scotland officers said it was one of the most horrific cases they had dealt with and the material was like nothing they had seen before. Det Sgt Karen Murray said: "This was a long and complex investigation which involved a number of organisations including the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and was the first of its kind in the UK. "Thanks to the work of these organisations, Herron will now face the consequences of her actions which contributed to the cruel torture and immense suffering of a number of innocent animals." She added: "This was one of the most disturbing and graphic cases we have worked on and we hope this sentence shows that even though the cruelty took place abroad, that these types of crimes will not be tolerated and we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold people accountable." Det Insp Mark Harrison, from the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: "This investigation is truly shocking and unsettling. "The people involved are not just motivated by money, this is also about getting some sort of gratification from watching animals being tortured and then sharing those images with others." Procurator fiscal Faye Cook said: "The videos and images that Natalie Herron bought and shared online are horrendous. "These animals were shown to be suffering extreme pain. This has been a distressing case for the prosecution team and police, but we have held Natalie Herron accountable. "Individuals involved in the distribution of graphic and obscene online content depicting violent torture should be forewarned that this behaviour is not only repellent, but is against the law and will be prosecuted." Anyone who has any concerns around such behaviour is asked to contact Police Scotland. US ringleader in global monkey torture network sent to jail Women jailed over sadistic monkey torture videos
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Graz: At least nine killed in shooting at Austrian school - city's mayor Elke Kahr says
At least nine people have been killed and others injured in a shooting attack on a school in the Austrian city of Graz, the city's mayor has said. Seven students and one adult were among the dead in Tuesday morning's attack, and the shooter was among them, Graz Mayor Elke Kahr told the Austrian Press Agency (APA). Kronen Zeitung newspaper said a suspect had reportedly been found dead in a bathroom, but that could not immediately be confirmed. Austria's Interior Ministry said there were several fatalities but did not say how many, while police said there were also injuries, without specifying a number. Earlier APA, quoting Mayor Kahr, also said the shooter was among the dead. Special forces were among those sent to the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school at 10am local time after reports of shots being heard. At 11.30 am, police said on X that the school had been evacuated and everyone had been taken to a safe meeting point. The situation was "secured", they said and there was no longer believed to be any danger. National broadcaster ORF said several people had been seriously injured, including students and teachers, after what it called a "shooting spree" in the city in southeastern Austria. Police said several emergency services, a police helicopter and Cobra, a police tactical unit, have been deployed and they told parents to go to the ASKO Stadium, the home ground of local football club, ESK Graz, to meet their children. Pictures showed armed officers at the scene. Graz is Austria's second-largest city, and has a population of around 300,000. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Missing teenager last seen in Greater Manchester town centre EIGHT days ago
People are being urged to look out for a 16-year-old boy who was last seen in Oldham town centre eight days ago. Greater Manchester Police says Gerald was last seen on Queen Street at 1.45pm on Monday, June 2. The force has issued a public appeal to find him this morning (June 10). READ MORE: Man dies after being hit by car which ploughed into Manchester shop and bus stop READ MORE: 'If I hear the wheelie bins moving, I'll know it's them' It says 'extensive enquiries' have been taking place in an effort to find Gerald since he was reported as missing. Gerald is described as being 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build and with short, dark brown hair. He has a scar on his left leg. Gerald's surname has not been given by GMP. At the time of his disappearance, Gerald was last seen wearing a white-and-grey Nike shirt, black shorts and white Nike trainers. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE He also wore a black Hoodrich baseball cap. A photo of Gerald has been issued on social medial alongside an urgent appeal to find him. Anyone who sees Gerald or has information on his whereabouts is urged to come forward as soon as possible. A GMP spokesperson added: "Extensive enquiries have been conducted since he was first reported missing to us. "Anyone with information about Gerald's whereabouts should contact police on 0161 856 8906 quoting log 3361 of June 2, 2025." --- For the latest stories and breaking news visit Get the latest headlines, features and analysis that matter to you by signing up to our various Manchester Evening News newsletters here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to stay up to date with the latest. Follow us on X @mennewsdesk for all the latest stories and updates on breaking incidents from across the region and beyond, as well as on our Facebook page here. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our newsdesk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it.
