Praising the facial recognition trial as a success, Police Commissioner Col Blanch told 6PR Mornings host Simon Beaumont that the 79 arrests are only part of the story, pointing to a tangible increase in community safety and visible deterrence.

Press PLAY to hear Col Blanch discuss the AI facial recognition trial

Reflecting on the initiative, Blanch said deterrence is the primary goal.

“In my view, deterrence of people seeking to do harm is better than trying to catch them on the quiet. And I’d rather them not go there in the first … The measure of success for me … is about policing visibility and bringing our community along with us on the journey of using technology”, Blanch said.

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