Sainsbury's Trials Facial Recognition Technology to Deter Shoplifters

Sainsbury's is planning to introduce facial recognition technology across its supermarkets in a bid to identify shoplifters.

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."

However, privacy campaigners described the project as "deeply disproportionate and chilling", urging the supermarket chain to abandon its plans.

Sainsbury's is working with facial recognition business Facewatch and will start using the technology this week before a potential nationwide roll out.

Facewatch is used in numerous retailers in the UK - including Budgens, Sports Direct and Costcutter - to identify shoplifters.

But the use of facial recognition in shops has been heavily criticised with campaigners and MPs calling for a ban.

Sainsbury's, which has more than 1,400 shops across the country, said the plans were "not about monitoring" staff or customers, but to create "safe, secure and welcoming environments".

Bosses said the technology would be used to help identify and potentially ban people who are "violent, aggressive or steal in the store", but records would be instantly deleted if the software does not recognise the face of reported individuals.