Sainsbury’s will roll out facial recognition cameras after a trial coincided with a « seismic » drop in crime. Trials in two stores saw a 46% reduction in theft, harm, aggression and antisocial behaviour, while 92% of identified offenders did not return, meaning « fewer frightening moments for colleagues » and customers.
Sainsbury’s will initially extend the technology to five more London stores: Dalston, Elephant and Castle, Ladbroke Grove, Camden and Whitechapel. The original trial supermarkets in Sydenham and Bath Oldfield Park will continue using the Facewatch system, and the company said it plans to bring the technology to more stores nationwide.
The technology uses artificial intelligence to match faces with a watchlist of prolific and repeat offenders shared by local stores.
When someone deemed a person of interest enters the store, an alert is sent to a trained colleague, who conducts further checks before taking action. Sainsbury’s claimed the Facewatch system has a « 99.98% accuracy rate ».
Facewatch reportedly sent more than 516,700 alerts to its network of retailers last year, equivalent to 1,415 a day. It is understood to be used by more than 100 chains, including Home Bargains and Sports Direct.
Claire Pickthall, retailer and digital director at Sainsbury’s, told The Mirror: « It’s been seismic and that’s been hugely encouraging. It’s not marginal. »
It comes after the British Retail Consortium reported that 2,000 incidents of violence and abuse happened across retailers every day in the UK.
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s CEO, added: “When colleagues in our own stores tell us they are worried about their physical safety, we have a duty to act. We also know that a safe environment for colleagues is essential to keeping customers safe too.
« No one should feel at risk simply going about their day. Protecting everyone who walks through our doors is fundamental to earning and keeping the public’s trust.”
Sainsbury’s said the rollout helps it understand how facial recognition works when used across several stores in the same area. Signage will be installed at all stores using the technology, so customers are aware it is in operation.
They reassured customers that the system is designed « solely to identify individuals who have previously shown violent, aggressive or criminal behaviour in participating stores » and that it was not used to monitor everyday shoppers or colleagues.
« If the system does not recognise someone, the image is deleted instantly, » the update added.
