The supermarket giant will make a major change to some of its stores, prioritising both customers and staff.
Customers and employees at Tesco will spot significant changes being introduced across branches in the coming days, as the retail giant ramps up its battle against a spiralling crisis affecting the entire country. This major overhaul arrives as attacks on shop workers rocket nationwide, with over 2,000 incidents taking place daily.
Starting on January 26, the supermarket chain will launch a 10-week pilot programme spanning 40 outlets in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, rolling out cutting-edge tech to crack down on shoplifting and violence. The trial will deploy the Auror crime reporting system, which has already been adopted by fellow retailers and police forces across Britain, enabling shop teams to record incidents more quickly and consistently.
What does this fresh crime system involve?
By consolidating intelligence into a single platform, the innovation aims to help retailers and law enforcement identify persistent criminals and wrap up cases more quickly. Auror claims the system will help “connect the dots” regarding serial offenders who target numerous venues.
Mark Gleeson, VP in UK and Europe at Auror, commented: “We’re delighted to partner with Tesco to help build on the work they’re doing to keep their stores safe, and address the issue of violent and organised retail crime.
“Auror’s software will give store teams a structured and consistent way to record crime after it occurs.”
“This will help Tesco to better connect the dots on prolific offenders across multiple locations and provide the information they need to make informed decisions to enhance colleague safety and collaborate with police.”
Throughout the trial, CCTV footage of serious incidents and thefts will be examined by trained personnel at Tesco’s Security Hub in Daventry.
Static images may be analysed retrospectively using non-live facial recognition. The supermarket emphasises that live facial recognition will not be deployed, and shoppers and workers will not be monitored in real time.
Security Director at Tesco, Rachel Bennett, commented: “This trial will help us improve colleague safety and tackle abuse and violent behaviour by identifying repeat and dangerous offenders, and assisting police with their investigations.
“The investments we are making in improving safety across our store network will ensure that we not only lead the way in tackling the symptoms of retail crime, but drive collaboration right across the retail sector to deter would-be criminals.”
Tesco has ploughed tens of millions of pounds into security measures over the past four years. This encompasses record expenditure on security guards, body-worn cameras, protective screens, door-entry systems, and mobile patrols.
The supermarket is understood to continue pressing for a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers and wants delivery drivers included in any future legal protections.
