UK Retailers Started to Use Facial Recognition to Deter Shoplifting, Raises Privacy Concerns

With the advent of planned retailer theft, facial recognition technology has evolved as the coolest and helping hand for UK retailers. Some of the big stores such as Co-op, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have started executing biometric compliance technologies to fight against retail crimes that have prominently risen in recent years. However, project Pegasus being one of the best initiatives funded by retailers has also contributed to recognising 150 offenders besides leading above 23 arrests of suspected persons.

In addition, in the past year alone, the UK has seen a concerning increase in retail crime where theft may have doubled in £2 billion in losses. Many business owners in retail have found it challenging to continue as these thefts are continually enhanced. Regrettably, some shops have gone out of business because of the intense financial loss due to retail fraud. What’s more, the rise of crime has been the source of increased violence for retail employees. According to the Co-op reports, 44% were shafted in retail crime whereas 35% were involved in worker abuse while some were involved in harmful weapons, such as knives and medieval maces. Privacy 

Issues Provoked Debate

Despite such facial recognition efficiency in recognizing criminals, this technology has provoked prominent privacy issues. According to Emmeline Taylor, a criminology professor and member of Project Pegasus, there is a strong need for transparent guidelines to use face recognition. She said that technology should be used reasonably and defend people’s privacy because this technology efficiently detects repeat criminals.

Currently, in case of crime, shops are increasingly using face recognition, to review the footage and collaborate with police to identify the suspects. Some retailers worry that this technology is the source of misleading or misusing unless they handle it intelligently, while others argue that relying on conventional or local police records lacks precision in identifying the exact shoplifters.

Legal and Policing Reforms Being Demanded

Aside from technology, the majority of those in the industry are awaiting the changes in the law and the rise in police involvement. Theft of items with values below £ 200 is usually considered a minor offence that different forms of criminals exploit. Retailers such as Co-op on the other hand strongly believe that vigorous involvement of police and their reactions, and a revision of the existing laws serves as the method of deterrence of organized offences. The retail sector continues to show interest in high-tech solutions; for example, face recognition surveillance allows it to maintain safety and secrecy at the highest level.