UK Invests in Mobile Facial Recognition Units to Combat Crime in Shopping Areas

U.K. government illustrated its planned investment in facial recognition tech intended to fight retail crime. In course of the next four years the total of £55.5million will be spent on the deployment of this technology across high streets, specifically aiming at arresting repeat offenders and serial shoplifters.

Facial recognition rolled out in UK high-traffic areas to combat crime 

As per Home Office, £4 million will be spent on plans for the next 12 months to have mobile vehicles with live visual recognition technology fitted to them. They will be situated in areas with a larger number of people passenger shuttles and stationary units in the busiest town centers and high streets to scan eyes and instantly match faces with those known to the law enforcement or prohibited persons.

This move is a part of a broader decision to make a theft and violence reaction plan stronger. At the same time, reports show that although crime rate falls in general since 2010, theft and violence in neighborhood and shops have seen an unseemly rise.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, focused on the important aspect of facilitating the local businesses’ capacities to perform without being concerned about criminal activity or abuse. The local businesses, he said, are not just the main labor force for the economy, but are also the ones who are truly close to the community. This warns the officers as soon as an offender is arrested, which results in higher chances of quick response just on the site.

The issue of disregarding shop theft was explicitly addressed by Home Secretary James Cleverly who stated that it is the law and order cornerstone of a civilized society that underlies it. He declared a plan of zero tolerance concerning these acts and promised the community would not ever have to fight for justice again as prevention is always step ahead.

Retail security with new laws and surveillance technology

Technology innovations are coupled with government policies that work towards regulating industries and creating a healthier environment. A possibility considered to be the amendment of the Criminal Justice Bill that will be guaranteeing that offenders who are intentional of assaulting staff three times or shoplifting for the third time fails to notice that these offenders ought to wear electronic tags as part of the community order.

A further approach taken is introducing a new offense targeting assaults on workplace workers, who will then be subject to penalties of 6 months in prison, the fine of any amount, and permanent entry ban to the same premises where committed the offense. These instructions could be criminalized, and penalty could go up to five years of prison, with a possibility of longer sentences in more serious cases.

One step retailers take to maintain their environment safe is the installing of cameras in high-risk areas like cash registers where there are greater chances of fraud or scamming. Some civil rights groups have, however, raised concerns over privacy, especially in the event of misidentification. 

Some people are not convinced that the technology can be trusted – they are afraid that this infringes upon personal rights. What we need is a closer monitoring and adjustment mechanism.

The U.K. might relates to a strong method at tackling a matter of concern retail crime through the deployment of technology, legislative changes and community support. Hence, while security and civil liberties square, the balance will be a subliminal issue both between grassroots and political discussions.

News sourced from:  UK Government publications website GOV.UK