UK police forces are using surveillance equipment well known for having ethical and security issues, the biometrics and surveillance commissioner has warned.

A survey conducted by the Commissioner’s office asked all 43 police force areas in England and Wales, the British Transport Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence, and the National Crime Agency, about their use and governance of public surveillance camera systems including on drones and helicopters, body-worn video and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

At least 18 respondents said that their external camera systems use equipment with security or ethical concerns, including technology supplied by Chinese multinational Huawei. The company, which has been linked to the surveillance of the Uyghur people currently facing mass detention in China, has also reportedly tested facial recognition technology which can identify ethnic minorities in the region.

23 out of the 31 respondents who said they operated cameras on drones to carry out video, audio or thermal imaging said that they were aware of security or ethical concerns about the manufacturer of their drones, Chinese company, DJI.

39 responses were received out of a possible total of 47 - with the City of London Police; Gloucestershire Police; Greater Manchester Police; Gwent Police; Merseyside Police; National Crime Agency (NCA); South Yorkshire Police; and Thames Valley Police all failing to share information about their use of public surveillance cameras.

“It is abundantly clear from this detailed analysis of the survey results that the police estate in the UK is shot through with Chinese surveillance cameras,” said biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner Fraser Sampson. “It is also clear that the forces deploying this equipment are generally aware that there are security and ethical concerns about the companies that supply their kit.”

Sampson said that given news in recent days about a Chinese "spy balloon" hovering 60,000 feet above North America, he cannot understand why the UK is unconcerned about surveillance technology that is only "six feet" above the public's heads.

Other equipment, including ANPR systems and body-worn video systems, are also being supplied by companies that have raised moral or security concerns - but this is less widespread across the police and other law enforcement agencies.

The figures follow parliament's decision to curtail the use of equipment made by several Chinese manufacturers where "security is key".

The biometrics commissioner said that he, along with others, has been asking for some time whether both for security and ethical reasons it is appropriate for public bodies to use equipment made by businesses with "such serious questions hanging over them".

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