Convenience store spy cameras face legal challenge
The Southern Co-op group has adopted a high tech version of that system where a shop has some photos of people banned from their shop behind the counter - for an 'ethical' co-operative society this seems a bit unethical..
The Southern Co-op group has adopted a high tech version of that system where a shop has some photos of people banned from their shop behind the counter - for an 'ethical' co-operative society this seems a bit unethical..
A single camera captures the faces of people who enter the shops, and the images are analysed and converted into biometric data.
This is then compared with a database of people the co-operative says have stolen from its shops, or been violent.
A spokeswoman said the watch-list was not a list of people with criminal convictions, but of people for which the business had evidence of criminal or anti-social behaviour.
Any shopper previously banned would be asked to leave, and others would be approached by staff with an offer of "how can I help?" to make it clear their presence had been detected.
Facewatch also provides the biometric cameras to Costcutter, Sports Direct, Spar, Nisa and Frasers Group.