After a Government data leak exposed the identities of thousands of Afghans who supported UK forces, the Taliban are reportedly escalating reprisals and a covert airlift is under way to extract those in danger.

Police will deploy live facial-recognition technology at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival to identify individuals sought over serious offences and deter violence, prompting debate about the balance between public safety and privacy.

Following a data blunder that revealed the identities of thousands evacuated from Afghanistan, law firms are signing up claimants who could each receive up to £250,000 in compensation, leaving taxpayers exposed to a possible £1 billion bill and prompting fresh scrutiny of the Government’s handling of the covert airlift.

Pressure is building on ministers to explain a clandestine £7 billion airlift scheme that has brought 18,500 Afghans into Britain under a long-running super-injunction, prompting cross-party calls for transparency and accountability.