Police could use street cameras to read our emotions, identifying criminals by their eyes, voice or even the way they walk.

Ministers launched a consultation yesterday on emerging technology that analyses 'motions and emotions' and could help catch criminals, prevent suicides and find missing people.

Under the draconian plans, which critics fear could usher in a 'surveillance state in everything but name', the Home Office is consulting on the use of technology which 'analyses the body and its movements to infer information about the person, such as their emotions or actions'.