Iceland is making major change to checkouts and 'will expand' to more stores

Iceland is set to install facial recognition in stores as part of a major change to its checkouts. It comes as part of a crackdown on theft and violence against staff, with two stores already testing the technology.

The cameras check customers faces against a database of known offenders, it then triggers an alert to staff to the store when a match is made. If successful, the technology could be rolled out to more Iceland stores.

Facewatch is also used by Home Bargains, B&M and Frasers Group – including Flannels, House of Fraser, Sports Direct and Evans Cycles.

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An Iceland spokesperson said: "Following a robust due diligence process, we can confirm that our facial recognition trial is now live in two stores and will expand further this year.

"This is part of our continued investment into tackling violent retail crime and protecting the safety of our colleagues and customers."

It comes after Iceland closed its store in Margate, Kent, last weekend, with its store in Inverness, Scotland, following on July 12.

Shoppers have reacted to the news on social media. One said: “Wow they been there as long as I can remember they one of the original shops in that area such a shame.”

Another commented: “This is awful all the elderly people that use this and Morrisons to do the weekly shops will now suffer once again.” A third said: “Such a shame I remember when it opened.”

Iceland, which has over 900 stores across the UK, has not confirmed the reason behind the closures. The supermarket has closed a handful of stores over the last few months, including its Welling branch in London.

Its shops in Shenley Road, Borehamwood and Alphington Road Retail Park in Exeter have also been shut down. But it isn't all bad news.

The retailer has also opened new stores. Last month, Iceland opened a new city centre supermarket in Derby and another shop at Victoria Chambers on London Road.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to open 20 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores, and the supermarket has also opened a new 500,000 square foot £100million distribution centre in Warrington.

The Omega Park Site in Warrington - which opened in partnership with GXO in February - supplies around 350 Iceland stores across the north west of England, the Scottish borders and Wales.