SHOPPERS have slammed Tesco after the supermarket brought “prison-like” security scanners into its stores.
The huge change to its comes as the brand battles against a nationwide shoplifting epidemic, though customers think the “Heathrow-level” scanners go too far.
Tesco has unveiled a huge change to its stores
New security checkpoints will require you to scan each of your items before leaving
The new “Scan as You Shop” system sees shoppers passing through a security checkpoint, before collecting a scanning device.
Using the device, they will need to scan each item they pick up before putting them into their baskets.
Once finished, can pay for their items altogether – before exiting through the security checkpoint.
Some shoppers may be stopped in a service check, in order to ensure that customers follow the rules.
The new system is currently being trialled in Slough, though some customers have described it as “creepy”.
One user shared a video of the new scanners with the caption: “Slough showing their avant-garde edge with Heathrow level security checkout.”
Another raged: “The UK is slowly turning into one big corporate prison system.”
A spokesperson from Tesco told the Daily Mail : “We’re running a trial in a very small number of stores to help our Scan as You Shop customers make sure they haven’t missed any items when scanning.
“This will reduce the number of manual checks by colleagues, reduce queuing times and streamline the checkout experience for customers.”
The news comes as supermarkets battle a huge shoplifting wave affecting stores across the country.
Sainsbury’s has also announced plans to in a bid to fight the surge in shoplifting.
Across 1,400 of its stores, the brand could soon be implementing facial recognition technology to track .
The boss Simon Roberts said the pilot was “focused solely on identifying serious offenders who have committed acts of violence, aggression, or theft, helping our teams prevent further harm”.
Simon added: “We have listened to the deep concerns our colleagues and customers have and they’re right to expect us to act.
“The retail sector is at a crossroads, facing rising abuse, anti-social behaviour and violence. We must put safety first.
On TikTok, shoppers have described the checkpoints as ‘prison-like’
“We understand that facial recognition technology can raise valid questions about data and privacy.
“This trial and subsequent roll out is not about monitoring colleagues or our valued customers.
“It’s focused solely on identifying serious offenders who have committed acts of violence, aggression, or theft, helping our teams prevent further harm.”
Earlier this year, the was also forced to make a huge change to several of its stores.
The company decided to move several of its most popular sandwiches behind its counters, after some stores were robbed every twenty minutes.
In May, a worker at a store in Whitechapel, East London, said: “The stealing before was so bad.
“I couldn’t put a number on how many thieves came in every day.”
