Devon and Cornwall Police deployed a live facial recognition van in Newquay town centre from Thursday 6 August until Saturday 8 August, the force's first operational use of the technology. The cameras are operating in Newquay but not at the Boardmasters festival site at Watergate Bay, which is hosting around 50,000 people across five days.
The technology compares faces captured by a live camera with a predetermined watchlist that can include people wanted in connection with criminal investigations, subject to court orders or considered to pose a risk to the public. The force said the aim is to reduce the risk of violence against women and girls, organised serious crime, identify sexual offenders and prevent illegal drugs being brought into the county.
Images of people who are not of interest will be "automatically and permanently deleted within seconds" and police will not retain the data, officers said. If the system identifies a possible match, an officer must review it and decide whether to speak to the person.
Superintendent Vicky Howell, police event commander, told BBC News: "It's really important that we work with our communities and work with people in the festival to help prevent crime, help mitigate safeguarding risks and help make it an enjoyable event for everybody."
Chief Inspector Peter Shabytah said it is a traditional policing concept that uses technology to "turbo charge" matching faces to people who are known to police. Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: "The police need to use every tool available to find wanted criminals and take them off our streets."
The deployment comes after Boardmasters has faced scrutiny over safety in recent years. Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 14 suspected spiking incidents during the 2025 festival, down from 55 a year earlier, although positive drug tests did not confirm spiking in either of the past two years.
Boardmasters runs from 5 to 9 August at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, with Lily Allen, Kasabian and Fatboy Slim headlining the 2026 edition.
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