Is The Use of Facial Recognition Across Retail Outlets The Way Forward Now To Tackle Shoplifting?

A lot of the larger retailers are itching to roll out facial recognition software as part of their CCTV but are currently cautious about the GDPR complications.Has this been the desired outcome all along?

Police across Havering are cracking down on shoplifting, but a question worth asking-just how much responsibility do shop owners have to do their best to deter shoplifting in their store? And is the use of facial recognition, the way forward now?

This week we have been focusing on shoplifting across the borough and looking at the complex situations involved.

A retail worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, reached out to the Havering Daily and said:

“There are a few factors that have influenced the increase in shoplifting. One being the financial pressures some people are experiencing. Secondly, a lot of large retailers adopted a deter not detain policy. Even the private security the retailers employ are told not to detain or even try to grab the bags of stolen goods. This has turned the security guard into just a mannequin.

Staff feel less safe knowing the security guard won’t or can’t do much.

This, i believe has allowed the shoplifter to become more brazen. On the odd occasion where they are challenged, they’ll use the threat of violence. When police arrest shoplifters, all to often the member of store management won’t provide a statement, when asked whether they’d attend court (if it goes that far) they say no. So the police can do nothing else but release the offender.

A lot of the larger retailers are itching to roll out facial recognition software as part of their CCTV but are currently cautious about the GDPR complications.Has this been the desired outcome all along? One large retailer has rolled it out to some stores already. Others are waiting for any legal pushback before going the same way.”

As police and retail owners work together in a bid to tackle shoplifting, we wait to see which options will now be used to prevent prolific shoplifters clearing shelves.

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