Sainsbury’s rolls out facial recognition to more stores after crime falls sharply: Is your local included?

Sainsbury’s, the UK supermarket chain, has launched its Facewatch facial‑recognition camera system in five additional London stores during the week of 23 January 2026, following a noticeable drop in shop‑lifting incidents. The new deployments, covering locations in Central London, are part of the company’s broader strategy to curb rising retail crime after a 10 % reduction in theft cases across its existing stores last year. According to the retailer, each camera feeds real‑time alerts to security staff and can identify repeat offenders, allowing for quicker response times. With the rollout, more than 600 Facewatch units will operate in the city, covering major high‑traffic aisles such as the food court and the out‑of‑hour merchandise sections. Sainsbury’s says the technology could cut theft costs by an estimated £12 million annually and reassure shoppers that safety measures are strengthening.