Facial recognition to be implemented in police SmartView system

The police's SmartView CCTV system is set to implement a facial recognition function, which will further assist authorities in tracking down fugitives and missing persons.

This as CCTVs around the city's shopping malls will gradually be connected to the crime detection system.

Implemented since the end of last year, there are more than 10,000 cameras installed across the city as part of the police's SmartView CCTV system.

The system has assisted the police in solving well more than 2,000 cases so far, ranging from murder to arson, and contributed to the arrests of close to 3,000 people.

While SmartView's vehicle recognition function is already in service, the system is set to implement a facial recognition function this month which will help police officers better track down fugitives and missing persons.

Police Senior Superintendent Leung Ming-leung said the addition allows authorities to input certain unique features of suspects in a computer before indicating which cameras have captured footage of the individuals.

This as authorities noted not all of the system's CCTV cameras will remain operational 24/7, adding they could only be authorised by inspector-level officers for national security and crime prevention purposes.

Footage captured by the cameras will also be erased within a month in accordance with privacy regulations, while relevant data such as time and location could be kept for a maximum for 180 days.

Meanwhile, the SmartView system is set to expand to CCTVs in large-scale shopping malls within this year, with sources indicating Olympian City, Tuen Mun Town Plaza and Kwai Chung Shopping Centre being among them