Retailer concerns over repeat offenders supported by Facewatch statistics

Figures compiled from Facewatch’s crime prevention network show that 297,433 real-time warnings were issued between January and June, representing the number of times known offenders were positively identified by the organisation’s live facial recognition technology.

Each alert gave retailers a real-time warning that an individual linked to previous offending had entered a store, creating an opportunity to intervene before theft, abuse or violence could occur or escalate.

June became Facewatch’s busiest month on record with 57,111 alerts, surpassing the previous monthly high set only a month earlier in May (55,462 alerts), reflecting both the continued expansion of Facewatch’s network and the persistent activity of repeat offenders.

The figures emerge as the Metropolitan Police Service continues to highlight the disproportionate impact of prolific offenders, saying a relatively small number of individuals are responsible for a significant amount of shoplifting and frequently continue offending despite repeated arrests and prosecutions.

Vital opportunity

Nick Fisher, CEO of Facewatch, explained: “An alert isn’t a record of a crime that has already happened. It’s a vital opportunity for front line shop workers to consider a safe response in order to prevent one.”

Fisher continued: “Each alert warns that someone known for previous offending has entered a given store, allowing critical time for staff to follow their company procedures, increase vigilance and take steps to help prevent a theft or a violent incident.”

In addition, Fisher stated: “As more retailers adopt this technology, we would naturally expect the number of alerts to grow because more stores are able to identify known offenders. The statistics also reinforce what the police and the wider retail industry is saying: that the same prolific offenders are continuing to target stores time and time again.”

Facewatch’s technology, which is used by upwards of 125 retailers operating thousands of stores across the UK, has helped to deter repeat offending by up to 70%, while in parallel improving staff safety and morale at a time when (according to the British Retail Consortium) there are 1,600 incidents of abuse and violence being perpetrated against shop workers every day.

Retailers using the technology range from national chains through to independent and include Budgens, Home Bargains, Sainsbury’s and Sports Direct.

Important role 

Nick Fisher observed: “Technology has an increasingly important role to play, not only in preventing crime before it happens, but also in terms of helping retailers to manage what comes afterwards.”

Continuing that theme, Fisher noted: “That's why we’re continuing to invest in new capabilities, including a new crime management platform which is designed to simplify how retailers record, manage and progress crime incidents from prevention through to reporting and on again to investigation.”

Facewatch has indeed announced the development of its crime management platform, extending its crime prevention technology beyond in-store warnings and prevention to help retailers manage incidents and police reporting.

The platform will introduce a UK-first capability to alert the police instantly when the most serious offenders trigger a live facial recognition match on entering a participating store, in turn supporting a faster law enforcement response to the most prolific offenders.

*Further information is available online at www.facewatch.co.uk