Retailers across the UK were alerted 297,433 times that a known repeat offender had entered the store during the first half of 2026, equating to 1,643 times per day, new facial recognition data shows.
June was the busiest month on record, with 57,111 alerts, surpassing the previous monthly high of 55,462 in May, according to Facewatch’s crime prevention network.
Facewatch said the rise reflected both the expansion of its network and persistent repeat offending, which was “adding weight” to growing police and industry concerns about prolific shoplifters.
Each alert gives retailers a real-time warning that an individual linked to previous offending had entered a store, creating an opportunity to intervene before theft, abuse or violence could occur or escalate, Facewatch said.
Facewatch said the Metropolitan Police had highlighted the disproportionate impact of prolific offenders, saying a relatively small number of individuals are responsible for a significant amount of shoplifting and continue offending despite repeated arrests and prosecutions.
“An alert isn’t a record of a crime that has already happened, it’s a vital opportunity for frontline shopworkers to consider a safe response to prevent one,” said Facewatch CEO Nick Fisher.
“Each alert warns that someone known for previous offending has entered their store, allowing critical time to follow their company procedures, increase vigilance and take steps to help prevent a theft or a violent incident.
“As more retailers adopt this Technology, we would naturally expect the number of alerts to grow because more stores are able to identify known offenders. But these figures also reinforce what police and the wider industry are saying: that the same prolific offenders are continuing to target stores time and time again.”
Fisher said Facewatch was investing in new capabilities, including simplifying processes for retailers to record and report incidents.
Facewatch’s technology is used by 125 retailers operating thousands of stores across the UK, including Budgens, Home Bargains, Frasers Group, Flannels, Home Bargains, Farmfoods and Sports Direct, as well as garden centres and charity shops.
Sainsbury’s announced earlier this month that it planned to roll out facial recognition technology to more than 200 stores by the end of this year, up from 55. It began trials with Facewatch at its Sydenham superstore and Bath Oldfield convenience store in September last year. In February, the supermarket apologised to a customer after they were escorted out of a store over a mix-up with staff and the store’s facial recognition system.
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