Facial recognition is catching twice as many London shoplifters, but privacy activists are worried

The Metropolitan Police has begun testing a new retail crime reporting technology that has proven highly effective. London's new shoplifting tech is working. Privacy advocates say that's exactly the issue.

The technology has been tested in Lewisham and central London since January 2026. Simply put, it allows retailers who have witnessed shoplifters at work to submit reports and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage instantly to the police.

This gives police officers direct access to the evidence and makes it easier to identify repeat shoplifters operating in multiple parts of the neighborhood.

So far, the crime reporting technology has been very successful. According to the Metropolitan Police, the number of shoplifting offenses solved nearly doubled last year. On top of that, police officers almost made 50% more arrests. Around 80% of suspects were identified through facial recognition software and crime databases.

Additionally, positive outcomes, which are defined as an arrest, charge, or conviction, is 21.4%, which means that more than one in five shoplifting cases are being solved. The number of shoplifting cases fell by 3.7% between April 1st, 2025, and March 31st, 2026, which is about 3,200 fewer offenses.

According to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, crime reporting technology is “a real game changer.”

“Latest figures show we’re making progress in reducing shoplifting in London, but there’s more to do. The police will continue to work closely with businesses and use plain-clothed officers, extensive CCTV networks, and increased visible patrols to catch, arrest, and prosecute offenders, building a safer London for everyone,” Khan continues.

Earlier this year, British privacy organization Big Brother Watch expressed concerns, noting that retailers must respect customers’ rights when using facial recognition technology.

“For retailers to indiscriminately subject their customers to automated monitoring and profiling, often without their knowledge or consent, is intrusive and unwarranted. When the technology inevitably gets it wrong, innocent members of the public find they are smeared by criminal accusations and left to clear their name,” Jasleen Chaggar, Legal and Policy Officer at Big Brother Watch, said in a statement.

Instead, retailers should respect their customers' rights, and the government must take action against the growing “AI Wild West” taking over shops across the United Kingdom.

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