Facewatch expands facial recognition into pharmacy sector

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Facewatch is expanding its live facial recognition business into the UK pharmacy sector, citing rising concern about theft and abuse in pharmacies.

It is preparing to launch Facewatch PharmacyProtect for pharmacy operators dealing with crime linked to medicines, repeat offending and threats to staff. The system is aimed at pharmacies that combine healthcare services with a retail presence on the high street.

The launch comes as pharmacy bodies warn of worsening conditions for frontline teams. The National Pharmacy Association has reported a rise in theft, aggression and threats against pharmacy staff, and says police and NHS responses are often inadequate.

Pharmacies face a different risk profile from other retailers because they store prescription and over-the-counter medicines and often operate in busy locations with limited security measures. Facewatch argues this can leave staff more exposed to confrontation and organised theft.

Its technology is already used across other parts of retail. Facewatch says it acts as a data controller under UK GDPR and sends real-time alerts to staff when a person previously linked to criminal behaviour enters a participating store.

More than 125 retailers using the system operate thousands of stores across the UK, according to the business. It says the technology has helped cut repeat offending by up to 70% and has been adopted by Budgens, Frasers Group, Flannels, Home Bargains, Sainsbury’s and Sports Direct, as well as garden centres and charity shops.

Facewatch also says its system generated more than 500,000 real-time alerts involving known offenders in 2025. It linked that figure to wider pressure on retail workers, citing British Retail Consortium data showing 1,600 incidents of abuse and violence against shop workers each day.

Sector pressure

Community pharmacies have become an increasingly visible part of frontline healthcare, offering services from dispensing medicines to handling patient queries and minor illness support. That accessibility can also make them vulnerable to theft, intimidation and repeat visits by offenders.

Facewatch says PharmacyProtect is being developed with pharmacy operators rather than simply adapted from general retail settings. It is seeking input from pharmacy groups, independent operators and trade bodies as it shapes the product for the sector.

The move suggests Facewatch sees an opening beyond supermarkets and fashion chains, where retailers have been investing more heavily in tools to identify repeat offenders and protect staff. The pharmacy market adds another layer of sensitivity because of its mix of healthcare delivery, controlled medicines and public access.

Nick Fisher, Chief Executive Officer at Facewatch, said the company believes the problem is becoming more severe. “Community pharmacies are on the frontline of both healthcare delivery and retail crime, particularly the rise in organised crime, which we have seen rise sharply in recent years in the wider retail sector. What we are bringing to the pharmacy sector is not new; it is a proven system that is already helping retailers across the UK identify repeat offenders, prevent crime and protect staff before incidents escalate. We want to work with the sector to better understand its specific needs, and offering open access to a demonstration of how the technology works is a vital part of that process.”

The move also highlights how facial recognition is spreading into more specialised areas of physical retail as businesses look for ways to respond to persistent offending. For pharmacies, the issue is not only shoplifting but also the risk of staff abuse in settings where employees may be dealing with prescriptions, stock controls and vulnerable customers at the same time.

Facewatch says the pharmacy version of its system is intended to support operators facing those pressures while staying within UK data protection rules. The technology will trigger alerts about known offenders and notify staff immediately when those individuals enter a protected site.

Its customer base suggests the business has already moved beyond large grocery and fashion chains into other sectors that have seen a rise in theft. The inclusion of charity shops and garden centres among users points to how crime prevention spending is widening as offending spreads to stores once seen as lower risk.

For pharmacy operators, the decision to adopt such tools is likely to depend on whether they see them as proportionate, effective and workable in an environment that combines healthcare, customer service and retail. Facewatch says it wants to build the product with direct sector input rather than offer a standard retail model.