The Scottish Police Federation warned there would be “little point” in spending millions of pounds on proposed live facial recognition (LFR) technology if people could simply conceal their faces to avoid identification.

The intervention follows a summer of protests and disorder involving masked demonstrators at anti-immigration demonstrations.

David Kennedy, the federation’s general secretary, said officers currently had “limited circumstances” in which they could require someone to remove a face covering. He called for a “legitimate discussion” about whether those powers remained adequate.

“There is little point investing millions of pounds in sophisticated technology capable of recognising a face if an individual intent on committing crime can simply hide that face behind a mask or covering,” he said.

Under new legislation in England, police can establish 24-hour “mask-free zones” in designated areas and require people to remove coverings intended to conceal their identities.

Mr Kennedy said any Scottish powers should include safeguards and exemptions for religious, cultural, medical and occupational reasons.

“It is about people who deliberately conceal their identities in order to commit offences, intimidate others or frustrate the ability of the police to identify them,” he said.

LFR is used by around 13 police forces in England and Wales. Police Scotland is developing a business case for the technology but has not decided whether to introduce it.

Critics, including Amnesty International UK, have raised concerns about privacy, civil liberties, inaccuracies and algorithmic bias.

Mr Kennedy said facial recognition should remain an “intelligence and identification tool” rather than replace police officers.