New generation security cameras - high definition

[ricohflex]

New high-definition cameras are installed in UK. There are about 1.8 million CCTV cameras in the UK.
CCTV systems are able to identify and track a person's face out from a sea of faces from half a mile (800 metres) away.

The significant thing is instant Face Recognition.
There is software that runs on very fast computers and which can recognise your face out of a database of known faces.

This is what technology can do.

 

[reachme2003]

our police is setting standards for cctv cameras used by commercial building owners.

 

[ManWearPants]

What is the purpose of the CCTV - proactive identification of individual of interests or reactive recordings to be used as evidence should something happens?

The facial recognition probably cannot see through sunglasses, filtration masks and disguises.