Another supermarket makes major change to self-checkouts

Lidl is the latest supermarket giant in the UK trialling a new VAR-like anti-theft system at self-service checkouts in a bid to tackle shoplifting. If a shopper fails to scan an item, the system will spring into action and replay the footage for them to see.

Should they still fail to scan the item, a store team member will be notified to intervene before the payment process is completed. This cutting-edge trial is currently underway in two of Lidl’s London stores, though the retailer has not yet disclosed the exact locations, the Grocer reports. For now, Lidl said it has no plans to roll out these security cameras across its entire network of stores. Lidl’s latest customer data protection statement read: “Some of our cameras may also use non-scan detection technologies as part of the checkout process. Any cameras using non-scan detection technologies are only active at our store checkouts and self-checkouts.”

The notice added: “Any non-scan technologies used on our checkouts and self-checkouts cameras are only used to identify non-scanned items, prevent inventory loss and will always involve human intervention. All facial images collected as part of our non-scan detection cameras are pixelated and no facial recognition technologies are used.”

Home Bargains has recently implemented this technology too in four of its stores, having installed cameras that detect unscanned goods at self-service tills. A pilot scheme is running at their Speke store. 

The company operates more than 600 stores in total. The discount retailer is collaborating with tech companies SAI (Storewide Active Intelligence) and Everseen for a trial run. Paul Rowland, Operations Director at Home Bargains, said the firm finds technology more effective than security personnel.

Concerning data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has flagged up an eye-watering 20.4 million instances of customer theft in the 12 months leading to September last year.

Retailers are forking out record sums to combat crime, plunging £1.8billion into precautions including CCTV, extra security staff, anti-theft contraptions and body-cams – a sharp rise from £1.2billion a year earlier. The BRC warns that these hefty outlays mean higher prices at the till for shoppers.

In February, the Government introduced a new Crime and Policing Bill, which features a range of measures including removing the £200 low value limit for shoplifting. This means the maximum sentence for shop theft will be seven years, regardless of value. It also includes making it a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker. 

Helen Dickinson, the BRC Chief Executive, previously voiced serious concerns over escalating retail crime, saying: “Retail crime is spiralling out of control. People in retail have been spat on, racially abused, and threatened with machetes.”

She added: “Every day this continues, criminals are getting bolder and more aggressive. We owe it to the three million hardworking people working in retail to bring the epidemic of crime to heel.”