Sainsbury’s has introduced a significant change to its self-checkout procedure in response to rising concerns over shoplifting. The supermarket chain is now equipping its self-checkout tills with cameras that enable video playback to help mitigate instances of incorrect scanning and potential theft. Shoppers who fail to scan their items correctly will receive a message prompting them to verify their actions, stating: “Looks like that last item didn’t scan. Please check you scanned it correctly before continuing.”
According to reports from The Sun, the implementation of this new system is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing security measures within stores. A customer recounted an experience where they were shown a video replay due to a pack of basil not weighing enough, illustrating the technology's function in real-time.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s commented on the initiative, stating, "We regularly review the security measures in our stores and our decisions to implement them are based on a range of factors, including offering our customers a smooth checkout experience."
This move comes amid alarming statistics regarding shoplifting in England and Wales. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), police recorded over half a million shoplifting offences in 2024—specifically 516,971, a 20 per cent increase from the 429,873 reported in 2023. This figure marks the highest level of shoplifting offences since modern record-keeping began in 2003. The ONS noted that there has been a "sharp rise" in shoplifting incidents in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, with offences remaining at record levels for the past two years.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has voiced concerns over what it describes as a retail crime wave. They noted that shop theft costs retailers more than £2.2 billion annually. A recent survey by the BRC indicated that there are upwards of 20 million shoplifting incidents each year, many of which go unreported due to retailers' lack of faith in police action. As such, the BRC has warned that retail crime is continuing to "spiral out of control."
In light of this context, Sainsbury’s new measure reflects broader industry efforts to combat increasing theft while striving to maintain a smooth customer experience during checkout.
Source: Noah Wire Services