‘Wanted' posters of shoplifters cause offence, says data watchdog
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said putting up images of thieves 'may not be appropriate' behaviour, warning retailers they 'must only share personal information that's proportionate to achieve your purpose'.
It follows reports that police told a shopkeeper in Wales to take down a sign calling shoplifters 'scum' because it could cause offence. Rob Davies, from Wrexham, who runs a vintage clothing and accessories shop called Run Ragged, was informed that the sign could be seen as 'provocative and offensive'.
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Katie Lam, the MP for Weald of Kent, claimed that one of her constituents who had been 'plagued by shoplifters' was told to take down photographs of the suspects.
Despite the shopowner giving police CCTV, card details and number plates, Lam said no action was taken apart from a visit from police who told him to take down the pictures 'because of the General Data Protection Regulation'.
'Our system should crush the lawless and protect the law-abiding. It does the opposite,' she posted on X.
The ICO said that data protection laws could help retailers tackle shoplifting by sharing criminal data 'as long as it's necessary and proportionate'.
'We want businesses to be able to take action to prevent crime, but we want people who aren't breaking the law to be able to go about their day without unjustified intrusion,' it said in a blog post in 2023.
Actions for retailers deemed to be 'appropriate' by the ICO include giving a suspect's details to the police, or sharing information about the incident with a manager or another store nearby.
However, businesses sharing images with each other or in a staff room was considered inappropriate, according to the ICO. It also advised against 'putting images in the local area, such as shop windows or lampposts'.
'You must only share personal information in a way that's proportionate and necessary to achieve your purpose,' the regulator said.
Official figures released last month showed that nearly three thefts per minute during usual opening hours were being reported in Britain, at a cost of £1.8 billion a year.
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