HM inspector’s report calls for live facial recognition at Scottish football matches

Scottish police should deploy live facial recognition technology (FRT) and drones to tackle escalating matchday violence, according to His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC) Craig Naylor.

The recommendation follows a series of disruptive fixtures over the past two seasons involving pyrotechnics, pitch invasions, and disorder. An independent review for the Scottish Football Association (SFA) into March clashes between Old Firm fans described the disorder as a near miss that narrowly avoided becoming a violent mass confrontation, blaming major planning and communication failures. The SFA report further warned that current sanctions are too modest and inconsistently applied to deter misconduct.

Labelling the findings deeply concerning, Naylor warned that Police Scotland costs are set to rise. He stated that clubs, governing bodies, local authorities, and fan groups must share responsibility, demanding stricter accountability and tougher sanctions. Naylor urged the government to mandate safety regimes if voluntary reforms fail, suggesting measures such as capping fan attendance, enforcing rigorous banning orders, and deploying LFT to stop banned individuals from entering stadiums.

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