Sainsbury's has begun trialling facial recognition technology in two UK stores as part of efforts to combat shoplifting. The eight-week trial is taking place at a supermarket in Sydenham, south-east London, and a convenience store in Oldfield Park, Bath, with a potential nationwide rollout if successful.
The UK's second largest supermarket chain said the technology aims to identify shoplifters and address a sharp rise in retail crime. Official figures released in April show shoplifting offences in England and Wales reached a record high, exceeding 500,000 for the first time.
Privacy campaigners have condemned the move. Madeleine Stone of Big Brother Watch described it as 'Orwellian' and 'deeply disproportionate and chilling'. The trial follows criticism of similar systems at Asda and the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition, which the Equality and Human Rights Commission deemed unlawful last month.
Sainsbury's is working with Facewatch, a firm already used by retailers including Home Bargains and Sports Direct. The supermarket stressed the system is not for monitoring staff or general customers, but for identifying individuals who are 'violent, aggressive or steal in the store'. Records of unrecognised faces are deleted instantly.
Chief executive Simon Roberts said: 'We have listened to the deep concerns our colleagues and customers have... This trial is focused solely on identifying serious offenders.' The Usdaw union welcomed the initiative, saying it looks forward to seeing the results of an 'evidence-led approach' to tackling retail crime.
