In a document released, the government outlined its ambitions to potentially deploy new biometric systems nationally over the next 12 to 18 months.

The AI-based technology has been criticised because it has a knack of identifying dark-skinned people as criminals.

MPs have previously called for a moratorium on its use on the general population until clear laws are established by parliament.

The government is calling for submissions from companies for technologies that "can resolve identity using facial features and landmarks," including live facial recognition, which involves screening the public for specific individuals on police watch lists.

The Home Office thinks artificial intelligence technologies could process facial data efficiently to identify individuals and software that could be integrated with the department's existing technologies and CCTV cameras.

Facial recognition software has been used by South Wales Police and London's Metropolitan Police over the past five years across multiple trials in public spaces, including shopping centres, during events such as the Notting Hill Carnival and, more recently, during the coronation.