Facewatch tests free retail crime platform linked to facial recognition

Facewatch has begun beta testing Facewatch Live, a free platform that lets UK retailers log incidents, link repeat offender profiles and compile case files for police, with optional integration into its live facial recognition system. Incident records may hold CCTV images and unproven theft allegations, and the rollout follows a Sainsbury's misidentification and campaigner challenges. The development shows private store cameras, biometric matching and police reporting being joined into one routine identification pipeline, making oversight and error correction central questions.