Eleven retailers across New Zealand have signed a joint statement with peak body Retail NZ, backing the option for stores to use facial recognition technology to combat surging retail crime.
This includes jewellery business Michael Hill and the owner of Rebel Sport NZ, Briscoe Group. The other businesses backing FRT are Bunnings, Farmers, Foodstuffs North and South Island, Mitre 10, One NZ, Spark NZ, The Warehouse Group and Woolworths Group NZ.
In a joint statement with Retail NZ, the 11 signatories reported that their teams face high rates of verbal and physical abuse from repeat offenders who pose a risk to their employees, customers and other visitors to stores, adding that these offenders are often responsible for significant violence, stock loss or damage.
“We are firmly of the opinion that FRT, when used fairly and accurately, can be a valuable intervention to help keep customers and employees safe,” the statement read. “It is a powerful and effective tool alongside other crime prevention resources such as security guards, fog cannons, staff training, body cameras, panic alarms, CCTV and other technology solutions.”
The joint statement came after Foodstuffs North Island trialled FRT across its stores, with the findings from the trial being approved by NZ’s Privacy Commissioner.
According to the group of signatories, the trial had shown that the technology made a measurable impact in reducing crime and improving safety in stores. Meanwhile, a survey of 1000 New Zealanders found 89 per cent support the use of FRT, even if it reduces harm by just 10 per cent.
“Keeping our people safe at work and keeping our customers safe is of paramount importance,” the statement continued.
“A significant proportion of retail crime is committed by repeat offenders. It is these recidivist offenders that we are able to target with FRT.”
The facial recognition technology used by Foodstuffs North Island was reportedly able to quickly identify individuals of interest as they entered the store. Staff and security personnel were then notified. FSNI reported that intervention is not required for every situation, but FRT was able to help their teams prevent or de-escalate incidents and offences.
The signatories also affirmed that FRT must be used in a fair and accurate way.
“Guardrails are needed to support customers’ privacy, and to guard against potential bias and discrimination,” they wrote. “We collectively make a commitment to work with Retail NZ to develop best practice to ensure FRT is used only to keep our people safe, and in line with our obligations under the Privacy Act.
“The use of FRT in the right settings with the right controls will provide positive benefits and outcomes for customers, retailers and workers, while not impeding on the privacy of New Zealanders. The vast majority of customers will be able to go about their business as usual and will in fact be safer in those stores where FRT is used.”