Supermarkets and chains face backlash for using 'dangerous' tech to catch shoplifters

Facewatch: The controversial tech that retailers have deployed to tackle shoplifting and violence Facewatch is facing a growing backlash from civil liberty campaigners but retailers argue they have no choice. Image:A Facewatch camera Image:Gurpreet Narwan is seen at the garden centre while being shown how Facewatch works Image:Facewatch is seen in operation as retailers look to crack down on crime. Image:Gurpreet's profile can be seen on the Facewatch database Image:The cloud-based technology has critics who argue that it amounts to a misuse of personal data and privacy Sunday 21 December 2025 13:16, UK The Christmas period is upon us, and goods are flying off the shelves, but for some reason, the tills are not ringing as loudly as they should be. Across the country, the five-finger discount is being used with such frequency that retailers are taking action into their own hands. With concerns about the police response to shoplifting, many are now resorting to controversial facial recognition technology to catch culprits before they strike. Sainsbury's, Budgens and Sports Direct are among the high-street businesses that have signed up to Facewatch, a cloud-based facial recognition security system that scans faces as they enter a store. Those images are then compared to a database of known offenders and, if a match is found, an alert is set off to warn the business that a shoplifter has entered the premises. It comes as official figures show shoplifting offences rose by 13% in the year to June, reaching almost 530,000 incidents. Figures reported in August showed more than 80% result in no charge . At the same time, retailers are reporting more than 2,000 cases of violence or abuse against their staff every day. Faced with mounting losses and safety concerns, businesses say they are being forced to take security into their own hands because stretched police forces are only able to respond to a fraction of incidents. At Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in south London, managing director James Evans said theft had become increasingly brazen and organised, with losses from shoplifting now accounting for around 1.5% of turnover. "That may sound small, but it represents a significant hit to the bottom line," he said, pointing out that thousands of pounds' worth of goods can be stolen in a single visit. "We have had instances where the children get sent in to do it. They know that the parents will be waiting in the car park and they'll know that there's nothing that we can do to stop them." Staff members here have also had their fair share of run-ins with shoplifters. In one case, employees trying to stop a suspected shoplifter were nearly struck by an accomplice in a car. "This is no longer just about stock loss," said James, "It is about the safety of our staff." However, the technology is not without its critics. Civil liberties groups have warned that the expansion of this type of technology is eroding our privacy. Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, called it...

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