British shopkeepers have be informed to not share images of suspected shoplifters – as a result of it might breach information safety legal guidelines.
The UK information watchdog, the Data Commissioner's Workplace (ICO), has mentioned it "might not be applicable" to place up images of identified native thieves of their store home windows.
On the watchdog's recommendation web page on methods to tackle shoplifting, retailers have been warned that they "should solely share private data that's proportionate and vital to attain your function".
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Final week, a Wrexham shopkeeper was ordered by police to take down an indication that labelled shoplifters as "scumbags" as it might trigger offence to the criminals.
Reform's deputy chief, Richard Tice, then mentioned: “We ought to be letting most people know of the pictures of people that have a observe report of stealing in cities.
“This highlights the whole madness of GDPR which is damaging to healthcare, it’s damaging to legislation and order. It’s damaging to companies and our financial system.
Tice added that anybody who backs the ICO's recommendation “is on the aspect of the criminals and ought to be ashamed of themselves”.
In keeping with statistics revealed by the Authorities final month, Britain sees nearly three thefts reported each minute.
Earlier this yr, the British Retail Consortium revealed that there have been over 20 million incidents of shoplifting within the UK in 2024, costing retailers £2.2billion.
Shadow Residence Workplace Minister Katie Lam spoke out on social media after a gathering with a shopkeeper in her constituency who was "suffering from shoplifters" and ordered to take away images of the thieves from his store window.
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She mentioned: “He provides police CCTV, card particulars, licence plates… No motion aside from a go to to say he should take down pics of thieves 'due to GDPR'.
"Our system ought to crush the lawless and shield the law-abiding. It does the alternative."
In 2023, the ICO mentioned: "We wish companies to have the ability to take motion to forestall crime, however we wish individuals who aren’t breaking the legislation to have the ability to go about their day with out unjustified intrusion."
The actions deemed applicable by the regulator included data surrounding incidents being handed on to a retailer supervisor or different outlets within the space and particulars being despatched to the police.
Different actions that the watchdog warns "might not be applicable", contains native companies sharing pictures of suspects to at least one one other on messaging platforms or pictures being put up in employees rooms.
The steerage says: "Sharing pictures on this method provides entry to those that don’t have the suitable authority to see them or take any motion."
GB Information has approached the IOC for remark.