Police turn to facial recognition technology

Riots prompt UK police force to use new technology that could be used during 2012 Olympics

Police have begun using facial recognition technology planned for use during London's 2012 Olympic Games. The technology will help it crack down on those responsible for the riots that have swept across the UK over the past week.

Police officers have been feeding photographs of suspects through Scotland Yard's newly updated face-matching program, according to Associated Press.

However, British Transport Police claimed that facial recognition will only make up a fraction of the police force's efforts. It said tips have come from traditional sources, such as still images captured via CCTV, pictures gathered by officers, footage shot by police helicopters or images snapped by members of the public.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said that the technology would only be used to help identify those suspected of serious crimes, such as assault.

He added that disseminating photographs to the general public remains a far cheaper and more effective way of finding suspects in most cases.