Government invests in facial recognition to clamp down on retail crime

Over the next four years the police can take advantage of a £55.5m investment package to roll out the technology. This includes £4m for 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.

According to the Home Office, the mobile units will take live footage of crowds in towns and on high streets, 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 a statement, prime minister Rishi Sunak said: “Since 2010, violent and neighbourhood crime in England and Wales has fallen dramatically… Yet shoplifting and violence and abuse towards retail workers continues to rise.

“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.