Government news, all in one place

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner oversees the use of biometric data and surveillance camera systems in the UK, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and codes of practice to protect privacy and civil liberties.

Communication Overview

Total releases

Number of press releases published by this department during the last 12 months, based on publicly available announcements.
3

Avg per month

Average number of press releases published per calendar month over the last 12 months. This smooths short-term fluctuations in publishing activity.
0.3

Avg word count

Average length of published press releases, measured in words. Calculated only for months where content was published.
179

Avg readability

Average Flesch Reading Ease score across all published press releases. Higher values indicate plainer English. Scores are indicative only and vary by subject matter.
13.2

Friday PM releases

Percentage of press releases published after 3pm on Fridays, relative to the department’s total output during the period.
0%

Single-release items

Estimated proportion of announcements published once, without a closely related follow-up release during the same period. This is based on similarity of titles and timing.
100%
Metrics are descriptive only and indicate publication patterns rather than intent or impact.

Releases per month

Based on publicly published press releases (last 12 months)

18 articles

Showing 1-18

Commissioner's statement on live facial recognition consultation

Commissioner's statement on live facial recognition consultation

Thursday, 04 December 2025

Statement on the launch of the government consultation on a new legal framework for the use of facial recognition and similar technologies in law enfo...

Read More → news_story
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner appointed

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner appointed

Monday, 03 November 2025

A statement from Professor William Webster, recently appointed as the new Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner....

Read More → news_story
Statement from the interim Biometrics Commissioner

Statement from the interim Biometrics Commissioner

Tuesday, 01 July 2025

Statement from Francesca Whitelaw KC, who has been appointed the interim Biometrics Commissioner. ...

Read More → news_story
Annual report of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner laid in Parliament

Annual report of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner laid in Parliament

Monday, 02 December 2024

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s annual report for 2023 to 2024 has been laid in Parliament today....

Read More → news_story
Resignation of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Resignation of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Thursday, 08 August 2024

Tony Eastaugh is stepping down from the post in mid-August....

Read More → news_story
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's annual report laid in Parliament

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's annual report laid in Parliament

Wednesday, 24 January 2024

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2022 to 2023 has been laid in Parliament today....

Read More → news_story
Statement from the new Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Statement from the new Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Tuesday, 19 December 2023

The Home Secretary has appointed Tony Eastaugh CBE in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. He has given a statement upon his ap...

Read More → news_story
Tony Eastaugh appointed Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Tony Eastaugh appointed Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Wednesday, 06 December 2023

The Home Secretary has appointed Tony Eastaugh in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments....

Read More → news_story
Report finds 'worrying vacuum' in surveillance camera plans

Report finds 'worrying vacuum' in surveillance camera plans

Monday, 30 October 2023

An independent study warns that the plan to abolish biometrics and surveillance safeguards will leave the UK without oversight....

Read More → news_story
2023 survey of law enforcement use of uncrewed aerial vehicles

2023 survey of law enforcement use of uncrewed aerial vehicles

Friday, 01 September 2023

A new survey by the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner has revealed areas of concern around data security and accountability....

Read More → news_story
UK policing 'shot through' with Chinese surveillance technology

UK policing 'shot through' with Chinese surveillance technology

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Police forces in the UK are shot through with Chinese camera technology, according to a survey by the Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera...

Read More → news_story
Drones, DNA losses and mission creep feature in OBSCC annual report

Drones, DNA losses and mission creep feature in OBSCC annual report

Thursday, 09 February 2023

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s annual report for 2021-2022 has been laid in Parliament....

Read More → news_story
Commissioner launches police camera survey

Commissioner launches police camera survey

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

The Commissioner has started gathering the latest information from all police forces under his jurisdiction on their use of overt surveillance camera ...

Read More → news_story
Biometrics Commissioner praises government on a 'decent job', but warns it's 'only half done'

Biometrics Commissioner praises government on a 'decent job', but warns it's 'only half done'

Friday, 17 June 2022

Professor Sampson praises the government on its decision not to hand oversight of police use of DNA and fingerprints to the ICO. ...

Read More → news_story
Is there a legitimate role for facial recognition in policing and law enforcement?

Is there a legitimate role for facial recognition in policing and law enforcement?

Friday, 06 May 2022

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner invites you to hear the evidence of experts and make your own judgement. ...

Read More → news_story
The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's response to the College of Policing APP on Live Facial Recognition

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's response to the College of Policing APP on Live Facial Recognition

Wednesday, 06 April 2022

Professor Fraser Sampson reflects on the publication of the CoP APP on Live Facial Recognition. ...

Read More → news_story
Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner speech at NPCC CCTV Conference March 2022

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner speech at NPCC CCTV Conference March 2022

Friday, 11 March 2022

Fraser Sampson's keynote speech at the NPCC CCTV Conference 8 March 2022. ...

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner speech at the National ANPR Conference 29 November 2021

Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner speech at the National ANPR Conference 29 November 2021

Thursday, 03 March 2022

Fraser Sampson delivers a speech to the National ANPR Conference November 2021, hosted by the NPCC....

Read More → news_story

Share This


Enjoyed this? Why not share it with others if you've found it useful by using one of the tools below: