Concerns raised about number of facial recognition cameras in North Tyneside

In August, Liberty Investigates and The Times revealed that North Tyneside had 193 closed-circuit cameras equipped with facial recognition technology throughout the council area.

In December 2025, such cameras were heralded by the Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones as “the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching”.

However, the privacy campaign organisation Open Rights Group, quoted in the investigation, warned about the consequences of the potential failure of facial recognition technology, dubbing their expansion “egregious”.

Areas with the new cameras include town centres and busy public spaces in North Shields, Meadow Well, Wallsend, the Fish Quay, Whitley Bay and Howdon, as well as North Tyneside Council Customer First Centres.

North Tyneside Council’s Reform opposition said: “Reform UK North Tyneside Councillors are all for using CCTV to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. If these cameras help catch criminals and make our streets safer, then that’s a good thing.

“But 193 AI cameras operating across our borough, with facial-recognition technology involved, is a serious matter. Residents need to know exactly what is going on. Where are these cameras? What information are they collecting? Who can access that information? How long is it kept? Who decides who goes on a watchlist? And were local residents properly consulted?

“We shouldn’t just be told that everything is legal and leave it at that. People have a right to feel safe in their own communities, but they also have a right to know how surveillance technology is being used around them.

“As Reform UK councillors, we will support sensible measures that help tackle crime – but I will also ask questions when residents deserve answers. Public safety matters. So does privacy. And so does accountability.”

Green Party councillor Helen Bell said: “I am concerned by the use of Facial Recognition Technology in North Tyneside and I think residents might be surprised to know that these cameras are in our town centres. The council have talked about cost effectiveness and safety but haven’t been clear about the exact nature of these surveillance cameras.”

North Tyneside Council has stated that when the scheme was announced in March, it published detailed information about where such cameras were being installed. The local authority stated how the technology would be used and its work with Northumbria Police.

A North Tyneside Council spokesperson said: “Our new CCTV system has significantly strengthened the way the council and our partners in the Safer North Tyneside Partnership are able to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, helping us respond quickly and accurately to incidents and urgent enquiries such as missing persons.

“Keeping our communities safe is a key priority for the Council and this investment directly supports our Council Plan commitment to building neighbourhoods and town centres that are clean, green, and safe. It reflects what residents have consistently told us through the Big Community Conversation and other engagement about the importance of safer neighbourhoods, town centres, and public spaces.”

The council’s statement continued: “We take our responsibilities around privacy extremely seriously. Appropriate safeguards are built into the system, including restricted access, accredited staff, robust governance and oversight, and data protection controls. Its use is in line with all relevant legislation.

“This is an important investment in modern technology, which is helping us and our partners keep North Tyneside safe.”

A spokesperson for the ruling Labour group said: “We make absolutely no apology for investing in CCTV and using modern technology to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Residents have repeatedly told us they want safer streets and town centres. Our job is to listen to them and give the council and police the tools they need to identify offenders, respond more quickly and keep people safe.

“The technology is being used within the law, with clear safeguards and controls in place. We would much rather invest in measures that help tackle crime ASB than spend our time looking for excuses not to act. Labour will always put the safety of our residents and communities first.”