Waitrose is stepping up its security measures in response to rising levels of retail crime, rolling out CCTV cameras and live display screens at the entrances of its supermarkets. The new system, which shows real-time footage of customers as they walk into and out of stores, is now in operation in more than half of Waitrose’s 315 branches across the UK. Shoppers are greeted by prominent screens displaying their own image alongside a clear warning message: “recording in progress.”
A Waitrose spokesman confirmed the supermarket has been introducing the technology for over a year, with installations continuing nationwide. He told The Grocer the move was designed to deter theft and other forms of retail crime. “Any data is managed in compliance with data protection law,” he added, stressing that footage would only be shared with police when specifically requested to support an investigation.
The rollout shows a broader trend in the supermarket sector. In recent years, retailers have faced rising incidents of shoplifting and abuse toward staff, prompting increased investment in technology to protect both employees and customers.
Surveillance has been extended to cover high-value areas such as alcohol aisles, while so-called VAR screens at self-checkouts mirroring football’s video assistant referee technology have become a familiar sight.
The announcement follows Sainsbury’s decision last week to go a step further by trialling facial recognition technology in selected stores.
Working in partnership with security firm Facewatch, Sainsbury’s has introduced the system in its Sydenham superstore and Bath Oldfield Road convenience branch.
The technology alerts staff when individuals flagged by the system as repeat offenders enter the premises, with the aim of reducing crime and improving safety.
Retail analysts say the rapid adoption of surveillance technology underlines the pressures supermarkets face. According to the British Retail Consortium, incidents of theft and violence against shopworkers have surged in recent years, costing retailers nearly £1 billion annually.
For Waitrose shoppers, the live screens may feel like an unusual addition to the brand’s traditionally upmarket image, but the supermarket insists they are a necessary step.