Sainsbury’s has begun an eight-week trial of live facial recognition in two stores as it searches for new ways to curb a surge in theft and violence directed at staff.

The technology, supplied by London-based start-up Facewatch, scans shoppers as they enter and compares images with a watchlist of individuals previously reported for aggressive or criminal behaviour. Staff receive an alert within a minute if a match is found and can decide whether to monitor or bar the person. The trial has started at the Sydenham superstore in south-east London and a convenience outlet in Oldfield Park, Bath, with the supermarket considering a nationwide rollout if results are positive.

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

Shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose to 530,643 in the year to March, an increase of twenty per cent and the highest level recorded by the Office for National Statistics. Retailers say the trend is driving higher security costs and deterring staff recruitment. Sainsbury’s, which operates more than 1,400 outlets, already employs extra guards and body-worn cameras but believes face recognition could target repeat offenders more effectively.

Privacy groups are unconvinced. Madeleine Stone, senior advocacy officer at Big Brother Watch, called the move “deeply disproportionate and chilling,” warning that the system “turns shoppers into suspects” and carries a risk of false matches.

Facewatch says its algorithm has an accuracy rate of 99.98 per cent and complies with data-protection rules approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Images that do not match a watchlist entry are deleted immediately, according to the company. Hundreds of other retailers, including Sports Direct, Home Bargains and Budgens, have adopted the same platform.

The Usdaw trade union, which represents retail workers, welcomed the experiment. General secretary Joanne Thomas said the union “supports Sainsbury’s ongoing work to protect retail workers and customers from abuse and violence” but added that results must be “evidence led”.

After the pilot, Sainsbury’s will review crime levels, staff feedback and error rates before deciding whether to extend the technology across its estate. If it proceeds, the supermarket would become the largest UK grocer to deploy live facial recognition, potentially escalating a debate over the balance between safety and privacy on the high street.

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