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Theft

Sainsbury's Introduces Facial Recognition Technology to Crack Down on Shoplifting

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Sainsbury's, the UK's second-largest supermarket chain, has begun an eight-week trial of facial recognition technology in two of its stores as part of a crackdown on shoplifting, which has increased significantly in recent years. The trial aims to identify and potentially ban individuals who exhibit violent, aggressive, or stealing behavior in the store. While executives at Sainsbury's claim that the technology will only be used to support store teams, privacy campaigners have described it as "chilling." The company has partnered with facial recognition company Facewatch, which is also used by several other UK retailers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sainsbury's is conducting an eight-week trial of facial recognition technology in two of its stores, including a superstore in Sydenham, south-east London, and a branch of Sainsbury's Local in Bath.
  • The technology is being used to help identify and potentially ban individuals who exhibit violent, aggressive, or stealing behavior in the store.
  • The system will issue an alert based on criminal behavior submitted by the store or other retailers using Facewatch nearby.
  • The technology is being used in partnership with facial recognition company Facewatch, which is also used by several other UK retailers, including Home Bargains, Sports Direct, Budgens, and Costcutter.
  • Sainsbury's has more than 1,400 stores in the UK and is working to address a growing issue of shoplifting, which has increased sharply in recent years.
  • The company claims that records will be instantly deleted if the software does not recognize the face of reported individuals.
  • The shopworkers' union, Usdaw, has expressed support for the trial, with its leader, Joanne Thomas, stating that the union looks forward to seeing the results of the trial and will continue to work closely with Sainsbury's to support a responsible and evidence-led approach to tackling retail crime.
  • Meanwhile, privacy campaigners at Big Brother Watch have expressed concern about the use of facial recognition technology in stores, with Madeleine Stone, the senior advocacy officer, describing the decision as "deeply disproportionate and chilling."

Statistics:

  • Sainsbury's has more than 1,400 stores in the UK.
  • The retail sector is facing rising abuse, antisocial behavior, and violence, with Sainsbury's saying that incidents of theft, abuse, and threatening behavior are continuing to rise despite working with the police and Government.
  • The number of complaints about the use of facial recognition technology in shops has been significant, with thousands of complaints made against Asda after it ran a similar trial earlier this year.

Sources:

  • "Sainsbury's to introduce facial recognition technology in trial" by Henry Saker-Clark, Sainsbury's, [No date]
  • "Usdaw responds to Sainsbury's trial of facial recognition technology" by Usdaw, [No date]
  • "Sainsbury's decision to trial Orwellian facial recognition technology in its shops is deeply disproportionate and chilling" by Madeleine Stone, Big Brother Watch, [No date]

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