Facial recognition technology used by police will be subject to tough new safeguards to ensure that the technology is used fairly and safely, the UK government said after it reviewed a consultation on the controversial technology.

An independent watchdog will be created to provide independent oversight of police use of current and future technologies – and could potentially stop forces from using them if they fail to comply.

It will also be made clear that any technologies used by law enforcement must be rigorously and independently tested against bias or discrimination of age, gender or race.

Further, a specific law will be introduced to make it clear that police use of facial recognition must be intelligence led and proportionate, so it is only used when officers believe wanted people could be present in an area.

These changes follow a public consultation, which highlights that – while there is strong support for its use and its effectiveness in catching offenders – there is a need for stronger safeguards around the extent of its use.

The Home Office has however yet to commit to any specific laws or a defined framework for safe and responsible use of facial recognition as it continues to be used across police forces.

While there are already legal requirements in place for facial recognition, they are set out across a vast patchwork system and in need of a clear, consistent set of laws.

The new watchdog will advise on standards, provide scrutiny and make recommendations to ministers on emerging technologies and risks. In extreme cases where forces fail to comply with regulations, it can pursue enforcement action which could see them handed a court injunction preventing them from using these technologies.

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In consultation with this new regulator, the government will develop a new legal code of practice for police to set clear standards and rules that all forces must abide by.

In addition, a separate legal code for the private sector will be developed to make sure that businesses using facial recognition to tackle crime, including shops, are using it responsibly and complimentary to law enforcement efforts.

“Facial recognition technology has been the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA matching, already helping police take thousands of dangerous criminals off our streets,” Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said

“The benefits are clear, but we must ensure that its use is fair, safe and proportionate.

“It is right we put in place clear laws to ensure that the use of this technology is watertight, so the public can have confidence that these tools, which are vital to our safety, are used responsibly too.”