Sainsbury’s to trial facial recognition to catch shoplifters

Business / Thu 4th Sep 2025 at 07:03am

SAINSBURY’S is planning to introduce facial recognition technology across its supermarkets in a bid to identify shoplifters reports the BBC.

The UK’s second largest supermarket has begun an eight-week trial in two stores as part of a crackdown on the crime, which has increased sharply in recent years.

“The retail sector is at a crossroads, facing rising abuse, anti-social behaviour and violence,” said Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts. “We must put safety first.”

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15l5p4zwdqo

7 Comments for Sainsbury’s to trial facial recognition to catch shoplifters:

Seamus

2025-09-04 10:09:52

I wonder if that is what Tesco have fitted as you walk into the Edinburgh way store as a result of the refit. They have a large tv screen mounted from the ceiling and directly under it is a large circulat camera with the led's around it, constantly going clockwise as though it's constantly recording?

Mr George

2025-09-04 13:29:20

As someone who has never shop lifted in my lifetime, I don't mind this in theory. But it's yet more information we give and facial recognition is known to be wrong and fairly often.

Nancy

2025-09-04 15:12:02

So in Sainsbury they treat you like a criminal once you are in the store. You have to go into a pen to use the tills, then hope you don’t get a ‘Time for a Check’ and a criminal record because something didn’t scan, then you have to try and get out of the gate and hope that doesn't alarm - Then show your receipt on the way out to security, as they go through your bag, as the alarm has gone off because you bought a chicken. I’d be happier if they just locked the criminals out.

David

2025-09-04 15:24:40

Nancy just use your brain and scan everything before leaving. It's not difficult.

Chris

2025-09-04 15:50:13

Will people be aloud to wear facemasks ,crash helmets or even makeup ?

Lance

2025-09-05 06:10:31

There is a far better way for Sainsbury’s to cut shoplifting than using facial recognition tech. It is simply to employ more staff to serve at the checkouts rather than increasing the use of self-service tills.