# South Wales police scanned ethnic minorities at four times the rate of white people

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ethnic-minority-groups-in-wales-four-times-more-likely-to-be-target-of-police-facial-scans/
- Published: 2026-11-15T14:00:17+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T14:34:23+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/nov/15/ethnic-minorities-wales-police-facial-scans-data
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Ethnic minorities made up 24% of South Wales police facial scans.
- They represent 7% of the force’s population.
- The force says it is reviewing its approach.

## Summary

South Wales police data show ethnic minority people were selected for officer-initiated facial recognition scans at four times the rate of white people in 2025, prompting concerns about racial bias. The figures matter because the technology is used to identify people suspected of crimes or unable to provide their details, and critics warn that biased use could increase the risk of wrongful arrest.

Ethnic minorities accounted for 24% of people scanned, while making up 7% of the force’s population; they represented 11% of people arrested in the area. The force said the figures raised concerns about disproportionality and that it was reviewing its approach. The scans use smartphone images and an algorithm called Neoface to check faces against custody mugshots and other databases; campaigners and a man wrongly arrested after a facial match have warned against relying on the technology alone.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.