A UK councillor has been criticised as "shameful" after posting a map online showing the locations of police vans using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology, with critics arguing the move effectively tips off criminals — including murderers, rapists and burglars — on where to avoid detection. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between civil liberties concerns around facial recognition surveillance and law enforcement's efforts to use the technology to catch wanted offenders in public spaces.

Police forces have increasingly deployed LFR vans to scan crowds and match faces against watchlists of suspects, arguing the technology has helped identify dangerous offenders. Critics of the councillor's actions say publicising van locations undermines these operations by allowing people with warrants against them or criminal intent to simply avoid the areas being monitored, potentially letting serious offenders evade justice.