More use of facial recognition technology under Government’s new retail crime crackdown plan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a series of new measures to crackdown on retail crime across the UK, including increased use of facial recognition technology to help catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting in the first place.

Part of the Government’s new Fighting retail crime: more action plan, £55.5m is being made available over the next four years so police can further roll out facial recognition technology. This includes £4m for bespoke mobile units that can be deployed to high streets across the country with live facial recognition used in crowded areas to identify people wanted by the police – including repeat shoplifters.

The mobile units will take live footage of crowds in towns and on highstreets, comparing images to specific people wanted by the police or banned from that location. Police in the area will then be alerted so they can track down these offenders.

In addition, the plan also sets out tougher punishments for people who abuse shopworkers. Assaulting a retail worker will be made a standalone criminal offence, sending a clear message that there will be tough consequences for this unacceptable behaviour.

“Since 2010, violent and neighbourhood crime in England and Wales has fallen dramatically, showing our plan to keep our streets safe is working. Yet shoplifting and violence and abuse towards retail workers continues to rise.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

“I am sending a message to those criminals – whether they are serious organised criminal gangs, repeat offenders or opportunistic thieves – who think they can get away with stealing from these local businesses or abusing shopworkers, enough is enough.

“Our local shops are the lifeblood of our communities, and they must be free to trade without the threat of crime or abuse.”

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