Major Australian retailers, including Wesfarmers-owned chains like Officeworks, Bunnings, and Kmart, are closely observing the United Kingdom's increasing use of live facial recognition technology to combat retail crime. This interest comes as Australian stores face a surge in shoplifting and violence but are limited in their response options due to recent rulings by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). The OAIC recently determined that trials of facial recognition technology by Bunnings, Kmart, and The Good Guys violated Australian privacy laws. The agency stated that these retailers did not obtain valid consent from customers and that collecting biometric data was not deemed “reasonably necessary,” even in stores experiencing high theft and staff abuse. Current regulations require retailers to demonstrate that facial recognition is a last-resort measure when less intrusive options have failed. In contrast, UK authorities are expanding their use of facial recognition technology. The Metropolitan Police announced plans to enhance its deployment, with major supermarkets also beginning to implement AI-driven systems in their stores. According to the Met Police's latest annual report, facial recognition technology contributed to 962 arrests between September 2024 and September 2025, totaling over 1,400 arrests since the program's inception. More than 1,000 individuals have been charged or cautioned, and police report no wrongful arrests, although false alerts were generated for 10 individuals, eight of whom were Black. Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest supermarket, is currently trialing facial recognition cameras in select stores in London and Bath. The system, provided by Facewatch, alerts staff when known repeat offenders enter the store or when shoplifting is detected. If the trial proves successful, Sainsbury’s may expand the technology's use. CEO Simon Roberts stated, “The retail sector is at a crossroads. We’re seeing rising abuse, antisocial behaviour and violence against staff.” The UK Office for National Statistics reported 530,643 shoplifting offenses in England and Wales for the year ending March 2025, marking a 20% increase and the highest number in over two decades. Australia is experiencing similar trends, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reporting a 6% rise in theft victims in 2024, reaching a 21-year high of 595,660 cases. In Victoria, rising cost-of-living pressures have led to a significant increase in retail theft, with incidents rising 38.6% to 22,850 in the year ending March 2025, the highest increase among Australian states. The debate surrounding the legal and ethical implications of facial recognition technology is intensifying. Karen Yeung, a law professor who has advised the UK government, noted that the technology's affordability and ease of use contribute to its rapid adoption. “Facial recognition technology is now cheap, out of the box and easy to use,” she said. “Combined with the rise in shoplifting associated with the cost-of-living crisis and austerity, it is an attractive tool for retail outlets.” However, civil liberties organizations are opposing its widespread use. Big Brother Watch, which is supporting legal action against the technology's deployment by police and retailers, described Sainsbury’s trial as “deeply disproportionate and chilling.” The group expressed concerns that facial recognition “turns shoppers into suspects” and raised alarms about wrongful identification, blacklisting, and potential misuse. Despite these concerns, public sentiment in the UK appears to be more favorable than critics suggest. A recent survey by King’s College London found that 66% of respondents are comfortable with police using facial recognition for safety and crime prevention. Additionally, two in five individuals trust the police to use the technology ethically, with many seeing little difference between facial recognition and traditional CCTV. A separate poll by the Alan Turing Institute also indicated sustained public support for police use of the technology.