(Image: Matthew Eachus)
LIVE facial recognition (LFR) technology will be used at Leeds Festival for the first time this year.
West Yorkshire Police has announced the deployment of the system around the external perimeter of the Bramham Park site as part of efforts to keep festivalgoers safe and prevent crime.
Chief Inspector Dan Tillett, who leads on live facial recognition at West Yorkshire Police, said: "Our priority is for everyone attending Leeds Festival to experience a safe and enjoyable event.
"Live Facial Recognition will form part of the wider safety operation at Bramham Park and will be used to help us prevent crime, safeguard the public and identify people who are wanted by police or who may present a risk to others."
The technology will be used in partnership with festival organisers in what police describe as a "targeted and proportionate" manner.
LFR works by comparing live camera images to a watchlist of individuals wanted by police or considered a risk to public safety.
Any alerts generated are reviewed by specially trained officers before action is taken.
Chief Insp Tillett said: "Whilst most people attending Leeds Festival are there to enjoy the event responsibly, we want to work in partnership to identify those who might seek to use the event as an opportunity to commit crime or cause harm.
"LFR provides us with an additional capability to identify those individuals quickly and effectively."
The technology has previously been used across West Yorkshire in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield city centres, as well as at other major events.
Chief Insp Tillett said: "We are committed to using the technology responsibly, lawfully and transparently as a targeted policing tool to help make Leeds Festival as safe as possible for everyone attending."