Sainsbury’s is to roll out facial recognition technology in stores to increase colleague and customer safety, following the rise in retail crime.
Working with facial recognition company Facewatch, the initial trial will launch in the supermarket giant’s Sydenham superstore and Bath Oldfield convenience store this week.
The system will alert Sainsbury’s to criminal behaviour submitted by the store or other retailers using Facewatch nearby.
The technology will be used to help identify and possibly ban people who are “violent, aggressive or steal in the store”, PA reported.
It comes as trade union Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear report found 77% of shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse and 53% were threatened by a customer.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s survey of over 2,000 UK respondents in July found 56% of customers support the use of facial recognition technology to protect colleagues and customers. Some 63% back its role in identifying repeat offenders and 55% believe it improves colleague safety.
“We have listened to the deep concerns our colleagues and customers have and they’re right to expect us to act,” said Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts.
“The retail sector is at a crossroads, facing rising abuse, antisocial behaviour and violence. We must put safety first.”
Facial recognition backlash
However, privacy groups have been quick to criticise retailers, including Asda, for the use of facial recognition in stores.
In May, privacy rights group Big Brother Watch filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office over Asda’s live facial recognition trial. It argued Asda was “infringing the data rights” of shoppers, and that the FaiceTech system was processing “data with a high degree of risk to data subjects’ rights”.
Speaking on the Sainsbury’s trial, Big Brother Watch senior advocacy officer Madeleine Stone described it as “deeply disproportionate and chilling”.
“Facial recognition surveillance turns shoppers into suspects, with devastating consequences for people’s lives when it inevitably makes mistakes.
“Facial recognition is dangerously out of control in the UK. Sainsbury’s should abandon this trial and the government must urgently step in to prevent the unchecked spread of this invasive technology.”
However, Roberts added: “We understand facial recognition technology can raise valid questions about data and privacy.
“This trial and subsequent rollout is not about monitoring colleagues or our valued customers. It’s focused solely on identifying serious offenders who have committed acts of violence, aggression, or theft, helping our teams prevent further harm.”
The retailer added that records will be immediately deleted if the face of a reported individual is not recognised by the technology.
Crime and policing minister Diana Johnson added: “Retail crime causes significant harm to shopworkers, businesses and communities, threatening livelihoods and eroding public confidence. That’s why we’re working with businesses like Sainsbury’s to tackle this issue head-on.
“This government stands with retailers and workers – retail crime will not be tolerated.”
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