The Henrico County Police Division is terminating its contract with Flock Safety due to privacy concerns about the company’s system of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras.
“As a county, we have listened as our residents have shared legitimate concerns about Flock Safety, the proliferation of its cameras across the nation and whether the data collected is sufficiently safeguarded to protect the privacy of individuals in our community,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III, of the Fairfield District. “While we are confident that Henrico Police has used ALPR data appropriately for legitimate law-enforcement purposes only, we cannot ignore the potential for misuse of system data by others. Ending this contract is the right thing to do for our residents and community.”
In consultation with the Board of Supervisors and other county officials, Police intends to cut ties with Flock Safety in the next seven days. During this time, officials also will review other options that will continue the division’s operational effectiveness.