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Suffolk Police to trial facial recognition in Ipswich town centre

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Live Facial Recognition technology will be deployed in Ipswich on Saturday, 22 February, to locate suspects wanted for serious offences.

Why it matters: The trial marks Suffolk Police's latest use of surveillance technology to protect the public, with the force borrowing two vans and equipment from Essex Police for the operation.

Live facial recognition technology being used to locate suspects wanted for serious offences
Live Facial Recognition technology will be deployed in Ipswich on Saturday, 22 February, to locate suspects wanted for serious offencesSuffolk Constabulary

How it works: The technology compares live camera feeds against a predetermined database of people of interest:

  • Scans take less than a second

  • Images of people not on the watchlist are immediately deleted

  • When there's a match, officers will verify the person's identity and take appropriate action

What they're saying: Assistant Chief Constable Eamonn Bridger said: "This technology has been proven elsewhere to be an effective tactic for locating and arresting suspects that are wanted for serious offences.

"People in Ipswich on Saturday, 22 February, should feel reassured that we are only looking for those individuals who have committed serious offences."

For context: Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore cited successful trials elsewhere in the country: "Trials elsewhere in the country, such as in Croydon, have had a very positive impact on reducing levels of crime and improving detection rates."

The bottom line: Suffolk Police emphasises that public privacy is a priority, with ACC Bridger confirming that images of members of the public who are not on watchlists will not be stored.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

An award-winning local law firm

Rated as "Excellent" on Review Solicitors with an impressive 4.8/5 on Feefo.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

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Computer scientist son of micro-brewery owner first to complete Ipswich pub trail

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Adam Littler, a 23-year-old computer scientist whose parents were brewers, has become the first person to complete both Sip'Swich drinks trails, visiting all 15 venues in just two days.

Why it matters: The Sip'Swich trails, organised by Ipswich Central  in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council, aim to showcase the town's brilliant selection of pubs and bars to a wider audience, helping people discover new venues they've never visited before.

The big picture: Littler, who moved to Ipswich six months ago, was awarded a limited edition Sip'Swich reusable cup and received a surprise £50 voucher from men's retailer James St. Peter's for being the first to complete both trails.

Mark Hubert of James St. Peters presenting Adam Littler with his voucher
Mark Hubert of James St. Peters presenting Adam Littler with his voucherIpswich Central

What they're saying: "Having moved to Ipswich six months ago and loving a drink with friends, when I saw the trails being promoted in the local paper newsfeed it was right up my street as something to do!" Littler said.

By the numbers: The ambitious pub-goer visited 13 venues on Saturday 8 March before returning to complete the final two a couple of days later. He collected his prize less than a week after the trails launched.

The details: As a computer scientist with brewing in his blood, Littler scored each location on a 1-10 scale rating for enjoyment of the drink, price and atmosphere.

"The Arbor House and Crafty Fox were two venues that I was really impressed with for their friendly and knowledgeable staff plus recommendations they made. The Arbor House was an unexpected gem that I'd go back to, and, the Crafty Fox had a really lovely vibe about it," he said.

To make the challenge more interesting, Littler had a different type of drink in every venue, including wine at Boom Battle Bar, a cocktail at Cosy Club and a spirit at The Black Horse Inn.

Adam Littler sitting in a cafe
Adam Littler was the first to complete the Sip'Swich trailAdam Littler

What's next: Littler plans to do the trail again with another group of friends so his girlfriend can also win a reusable cup. Meanwhile, the trails will run until the end of April or when all prizes have been claimed.

Lee Walker  from Ipswich Central said:

Ipswich is so lucky to have an incredible range of pubs and bars each with their own character and ambience. We devised Sip'Swich as a way of showcasing those places to a wider audience.

The bottom line: Further special prizes will be awarded over the coming weeks, including a voucher for a brewery tour donated by the Briarbank Brewery. Details and trail cards can be downloaded from www.allaboutIpswich.com/sipswich or collected from any of the 15 participating venues.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

An award-winning local law firm

Rated as "Excellent" on Review Solicitors with an impressive 4.8/5 on Feefo.

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