Two-Minute Recap Data Protection Law Matters Around The Globe

ICO Publishes Facial Recognition Audits and 107 Recommendations for Police Forces

On 18 August 2026, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), published its report “Facial recognition in law enforcement” alongside audits of five police forces in England and Wales, conducted between June 2025 and March 2026. The regulator made 107 recommendations covering compliance and best practice, all of which were accepted or partially accepted. It found inconsistencies in compliance across forces, with live facial recognition generally better governed than retrospective searches, and identified priority work on senior oversight, staff responsibilities, and controls over the source and retention of images. Forces were advised to limit watchlist sizes and use only accurate, verifiable and lawfully held images.