Morrisons ‘RoboCop’ style security cameras trial has sparked a backlash among some shoppers who claim the new devices have left them feeling “like a criminal”.
The supermarket has introduced the portable CCTV devices along its alcohol aisle as part of its latest initiative to tackle a rise in shoplifting.
The four-legged remote-controlled devices are called Safer Pod S1 and have features such as a 360-degree HD camera view and a 120db siren system.
The cameras were originally designed as a security measure in empty warehouses.
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Morrisons shoppers took to social media to voice their dislike of the supermarket’s latest security measure with one user claiming it made him “feel like a criminal”.
Mark Powlett wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Wow Morrisons how welcoming Robocop feels. I’m typing this as I wait for the one member of staff covering all the self service tills.
“I’m also being filmed there because actually paying staff to work when you can just make customers feel like criminals is lovely isn’t it?”
Wow @Morrisons how welcoming Robocop feels. I'm typing this as I wait for the one member of staff covering all the self service tills.
I'm also being filmed there because actually paying staff to work when you can just make customers feel like criminals is lovely isn't it? pic.twitter.com/DgdYk42uhT— Mark Powlett (@Markonair) January 8, 2024
In response to a comment from Morrisons, Powlett added: “There is literally nothing you can say that would make me think this is an acceptable way to treat customers.
“There’s less and less staff. We serve ourselves, wait an age for the one poor person helping to approve purchases and now this. It’s awful.”
One user described the move as a “panopticon society”, while another commented: “All the big supermarkets are starting to feel like a hostile environment where every customer is a suspected thief. It’s not pleasant to shop in these places.”
Last year, the supermarket unveiled several measures to tackle the surge in retail crime, including the introduction of optional staff worn body cameras and a fleet of CCTV vans.
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The only people who should be worried about better security are shoplifters. Everyone else should be happy that stores are introducing these measures against shoplifters as it the customer that pays for the goods shoplifted
A company which made £828m profits last year should not have to offset shoplifting losses by raising prices for those customers who pay for their goods. I agree with Mark, such intrusive technology criminalises everyone not just the offenders.
That as may be but to film shoppers is actually an invasion of their privacy especially if it is not made very clear to them that they are being filmed. So it is not about better security – surely it should be about ensuring that alcohol can only be purchased from behind a counter as they do with cigarettes etc.
They’ve been filming you for years. Every shop has some level of CCTV. This isn’t more intrusive, it’s just more obvious. Which is the deterrent.
No expectation of privacy is given inside a business.