Public back the use of facial recognition for safer streets but are sceptical about AI chatbots, Ipsos poll finds

Ipsos in the UK, together with the Daily Mail, has released new data that delves into public perceptions about policing technologies, new policies and the visibility of law enforcement in local areas.

Key findings

Facial recognition technology: 

• Awareness of new policing tech is high: 95% of Britons have heard about facial recognition technology in policing, with half (52%) saying they have heard at a great deal/fair amount about the technology.
• There’s broad support for facial recognition vans:
  • Nearly two thirds (64%) support government plans to fund 40 new Live Facial Recognition vans to scan faces in town centres and high crime areas to identify wanted criminals (17% oppose).
  • Over half (54%) say they would feel safer if the vans were deployed on their local high street, while 29% think they will make no difference. Just over one in ten (13%) say the vans would make them feel less safe.
• Weighing up against personal privacy: When given a trade-off:
  • 53% say that they are willing to accept a loss of personal privacy in public spaces if it helps the police catch more criminals, while 24% say that protecting the privacy of ordinary citizens is more important, even if it makes it harder for the police to catch criminals.
  • 17% do not believe that facial recognition technology will help reduce crime.

AI Chatbots:

• Impact on service: When asked if the use of AI chatbots to handle non-urgent online enquiries from the public would make the service the public receives from the police better or worse, 28% believe it would make service, better (6% a lot better, 22% a little better) while almost half (46%) believe it would make things worse (23% a little worse, 22% a lot worse).
• Comfort levels: Over half (57%) say that they would be uncomfortable being responded to by an AI chatbot for a non-urgent matter, while a quarter (25%) say they would be comfortable.

 Policing policies

• Frequency of patrols: Half (49%) say they see police officers patrolling their local area at least once a month, with 72% saying they see them at least once a year. However, a quarter (25%) say they only see patrols less often than once a year.  Two thirds (67%) say that police patrol their local area too rarely – with a quarter (23%) thinking police patrol the right amount.
• Generally, the public think the police currently prioritise the right things – although there are exceptions:
  • Current priorities: When asked what police in their local area currently prioritise, the top priorities are: y responding to 999 emergency calls (34%), followed by 29% tackling antisocial behaviour (29%), tackling drug dealing (28%) and tackling violent crime (24%).
  • Desired priorities: When asked what police in their local area should prioritise, the top priorities are:  responding to 999 emergency calls and tackling violent crime (46%). This is followed by tackling antisocial behaviour and patrolling the streets (36% each) and tackling drug dealing (35%).
  • Nearly half (46%) think police should prioritise violent crime, but only a quarter (24%) think they currently do.
  • Over a third (36%) think the police should prioritise patrolling the streets, while only 15% think they currently do.  
• Safety after dark: Just over two-thirds (68%) of Britons say they feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark. Almost three in ten (28%) say they feel unsafe. 

Commenting on the findings, Hannah Shrimpton, Research Director at Ipsos said:

"The support for facial recognition technology suggests that security remains a priority for many, despite privacy considerations. However, the clear discomfort with AI chatbots indicates that there is work to be done in improving public trust in digital solutions. There's a delicate balance to strike between advancing technological capabilities and maintaining public confidence. Additionally, the strong backing for professional development through a 'Licence to Practise' for police officers reflects a public desire for accountability and continuous improvement in policing standards."

Technical note: 

• Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 970 adults aged 18-75 in England and Wales. Polling was conducted online on the 5th February 2026.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.