Sainsbury’s has started testing facial recognition cameras in two of its stores as the supermarket battles a sharp rise in shoplifting and abuse towards staff. The trial, running for eight weeks, is taking place at a large branch in Sydenham, south-east London, and a convenience store in Oldfield Park, Bath. If deemed successful, the technology could be rolled out more widely across the company’s 1,400 UK shops.
The move comes as shoplifting in England and Wales reaches record levels. Official figures published in April showed offences had topped half a million for the first time, sparking alarm across the retail sector.
Safety Concerns Driving the Move
Sainsbury’s says the trial is designed to help staff identify repeat offenders rather than monitor ordinary customers. The company is working with Facewatch, a private security firm already used by retailers such as Home Bargains, Costcutter, Flannels and Sports Direct.
Chief executive Simon Roberts said rising theft and abuse had left the industry at a “crossroads.” “We have listened to the concerns of our colleagues and customers, and they are right to expect us to act,” he said. “This is not about surveillance of shoppers or staff. It is about preventing harm by identifying people who have committed acts of theft, aggression or violence.”
The system alerts staff when a known offender enters a store, using images logged by participating retailers. Records are deleted instantly if no match is made.
Civil Liberties Groups Push Back
Privacy campaigners have criticised the move, warning that the spread of facial recognition technology could erode personal freedoms.
Madeleine Stone, from the group Big Brother Watch, called the trial “deeply disproportionate and chilling.” She urged the supermarket to drop the scheme and pressed the government to step in to regulate “invasive” technology.
Her comments echo wider concerns about facial recognition. Just last month, the Equality and Human Rights Commission described the Metropolitan Police’s plan to use live facial recognition at mass events as “unlawful,” citing evidence that black men were disproportionately flagged by the software.
Union Response and Industry Context
The Usdaw union, which represents thousands of supermarket staff, gave a more cautious welcome. General secretary Joanne Thomas said: “We welcome Sainsbury’s efforts to protect retail workers and customers from rising threats of abuse and violence. We will continue to work closely with them to make sure any measures are used responsibly and backed by evidence.”
Sainsbury’s is not the first supermarket to test such systems. Earlier this year, Asda faced thousands of customer complaints after a similar trial, reflecting the public unease around the technology.
Looking Ahead
The pilot will run until late October, after which the company will decide whether to expand its use nationwide. Whatever the outcome, the trial highlights the difficult balance facing retailers: how to tackle spiralling shoplifting and antisocial behaviour while respecting customer privacy and avoiding alienating shoppers.
