Tesco has installed overhead “VAR”-style cameras at selected self-service checkouts in a bid to reduce shoplifting — but the move has drawn mixed reactions from shoppers.
The new system uses video analytics to detect when an item may not have been scanned correctly. When triggered, the till screen plays back a short clip of the unscanned product, accompanied by the message: “The last item wasn’t scanned properly. Remove from bagging area and try again” . Tesco says the technology is intended to make the checkout process quicker and more accurate for honest customers, while deterring opportunistic theft.
While some shoppers welcomed the additional support, arguing it helps catch genuine mistakes, others mocked the system’s resemblance to football’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR). One customer told the BBC: “I feel like I’m on the pitch being reviewed by the ref. It’s a bit over the top for a packet of crisps”. Social media platforms have been flooded with memes and jokes about Tesco “bringing VAR to aisle 5”.
Shoplifting in UK supermarkets reached record levels last year, with the British Retail Consortium estimating that retailers lost over £2 billion to theft in 2024. Tesco’s security chief has said the new cameras are part of a wider “shrink transformation” programme, which includes enhanced staff training and a 24/7 monitoring hub in Daventry.
Industry experts note that while technology can help deter casual theft, it may also risk alienating regular customers if not implemented sensitively. “There’s a fine line between supportive error‐proofing and making shoppers feel under constant surveillance,” says retail consultant Amanda Cox. “Customer experience must remain at the heart of any loss‐prevention strategy.”
Tesco’s trial sites include busy city‐centre stores and supermarket forecourts. If the pilot proves effective at reducing theft without harming throughput, the retailer may roll out the solution across its 2,400 UK outlets. However, Tesco has yet to publish any data on the trial’s impact, saying only that “early indications are positive.”
As supermarkets seek to balance loss prevention with customer convenience, Tesco’s VAR‐style cameras represent the latest experiment in retail security. Whether shoppers see them as a helpful aid or an unwelcome intrusion will determine if this technology becomes the new normal at the till.
