Facial recognition 'should be used more to catch thieves and thugs'
Facial recognition tech should be used more widely to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, the Home Secretary says.
Yvette Cooper has urged firms to think about tracking prolific shoplifters using a national database. Hundreds of big-name stores, including Boots, Morrisons, M&S and Greggs, capture criminals' images and details, including their vehicle registrations, on a database named Auror.
The information can be shared with other retailers and police, and used to ban and prosecute thieves. It is estimated that 10% of shoplifters carry out 74% of UK thefts.
Ms Cooper said: "We do want more retailers working together on schemes like this so that we can have partnerships tackling that crime." She also said the Home Office is investigating ways to get more facial recognition cameras onto high streets.
And the Home Secretary continued: "Too often people have been working separately in silos, and this sort of crime has been treated as low level.
"It's not. It has a huge impact on local economies and on that sense of safety at the heart of communities." At the moment experts believe that just five per cent of shop thefts are reported to police.
Ben McDonald of Morrisons said the Auror software, used by 98% of retailers in New Zealand where it was developed, was a "game-changer". The database captures images and details about offenders, including vehicle registrations, and allows them to be shared directly between stores and police. This wealth of information can be used to prosecute thieves and ban them from stores after retail crime hit a record level last year.
It is estimated that a prolific 10% of shoplifters are responsible for 74% of thefts in the UK - making identifying them especially important. The company claims that streamlining investigations meant forces in New Zealand have been able to hire more than 450 officers in the past seven years.
Earlier this year Devon and Cornwall became the first force to partner with the software firm. Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones said the network had "revolutionised" the way retail crime is tackled in the area.
Asked whether forces across England and Wales should follow the lead of Croydon in South London and install permanent facial recognition cameras, Ms Cooper this kit is "really important for policing".
She said: "There's more scope for using facial recognition more widely, and we're going to set out more ways in which that can be done in a proper framework. We want more retailers working together on schemes like this."
Ms Cooper said shoplifting "has a huge impact on local economies and communities". She has also told police chiefs she wants patrols ramped up in 500 English and Welsh town and city centre trouble spots.
She challenged police commissioners to draw up plans to tackle rising anti-social behaviour over the summer holidays. The blitz will see more targeted work to ban frequent offenders from hotspots.
Ms Cooper has vowed that by August, every neighbourhood will have a named officer who residents will know to contact, and problem areas must be patrolled. Labour has vowed to recruit an additional 13,000 neighbourhood officers by 2029.
Ms Cooper said: 'It's time to turn this round, that's why I have called on police forces and councils alike to work together to deliver a summer blitz on town centre crime to send a clear message to those people who bring misery to our towns that their crimes will no longer go unpunished.
'The fact that 500 towns have signed up shows the strength of feeling on this issue."
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JAMnews
39 minutes ago
- JAMnews
Former Armenian defense minister may face criminal charges
Criminal prosecution against Seyran Ohanyan The Armenian parliament spent several hours debating whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of opposition 'Hayastan' bloc deputies Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan. The motion was submitted by prosecutor general Anna Vardapetyan. No decision was reached, and the discussion will continue on July 7. Lawmakers will vote by secret ballot. If the parliament agrees to lift their immunity, criminal prosecution will begin against both deputies. Both lawmakers previously held ministerial positions under the former government. Seyran Ohanyan is a former defense minister, and Artsvik Minasyan is a former minister of environment. The cases against them are interconnected. Prosecutor general Anna Vardapetyan stated that Ohanyan abused his official position by illegally building a private home in a specially protected natural area. Furthermore, he allegedly concealed this property—valued at around 125 million drams (approximately $325,000)—from his annual asset declarations. Artsvik Minasyan, according to the prosecutor general, was aware of the illegal construction. As chair of a ministry commission, he presented the private property as an investment project of the environment ministry, effectively providing legal cover for the unauthorized construction. Here's a media-style English translation of your sentence: Thus, legal grounds were created for the unauthorized construction. 'The investment project served as a legal disguise for an already committed illegal act, which they attempted to present as legitimate,' Vardapetyan said. Following the tender process, the lease and construction rights for the land plot were transferred for 25 years to a relative of Seyran Ohanyan's driver. However, the house does not officially exist in property records. Minasyan maintains that the tender process was not formal and that the ministry of environment had no authority to investigate personal connections between the bidders. The prosecutor general stressed that these are serious crimes, with the statute of limitations still valid. The court will determine the punishment, which could include imprisonment. Opposition factions 'Hayastan' and 'I have honor' boycotted the discussion on Ohanyan's immunity, arguing that it is unlawful to proceed in his absence. Under parliamentary rules, such proceedings can take place only if a deputy's absence is deemed unjustified. The parliamentary speaker stated that Ohanyan's absence could not be considered justified, as he had not submitted any medical documents regarding his health condition. Regarding Artsvik Minasyan, opposition deputies described the process as 'political persecution.' Deputy Taguhi Tovmasyan said Minasyan is being accused of actions that were beyond his legal powers—specifically, whether to demolish or legalize the construction. All sides' perspectives on the case will continue to unfold. Former defense minister built mansion in protected area The case concerns land belonging to the state-run 'Sevan National Park.' According to Armenian law, private ownership is prohibited in this and other specially protected areas. The law also bans major construction projects in such locations. 'Only temporary infrastructure related to sports, recreation, or entertainment is allowed in areas with this status. In other words, projects must serve the public good and benefit everyone. Building a private, fenced residence is strictly prohibited,' prosecutor general Anna Vardapetyan explained. She stated that the value of the illegal construction on the seized land is estimated at around 125 million drams (approximately $328,000). Construction took place between 2010 and 2015 without proper permits. Initially, two applicants submitted bids for the project tender—both reportedly affiliated with Seyran Ohanyan. The repair and reconstruction of the property's swimming pool and sauna were carried out by Sitta Group LLC, a company selected through a defense ministry tender. According to the prosecutor, the son of the company's owner, Grigor Barseghyan, worked at the ministry of defense at the time. He headed the production and technical department of the defense ministry's construction and housing division. Law enforcement authorities found that the defense ministry ultimately did not pay the company for the work. 'The actual owner of Sitta Group LLC, Levon Barseghyan, realizing his company's dependence on Seyran Ohanyan and Ashot Grigoryan [head of the ministry's construction department], and aware that his son worked under Grigoryan's supervision, did not demand the 58 million dram [$152,000] payment, hoping for illegal advantages in future procurement processes,' stated the prosecution's report submitted to parliament. In addition, from 2011 to 2016, the military police provided security for the property, with their salaries—amounting to at least 13.12 million drams (around $34,000)—paid from the defense ministry budget. The prosecutor general said this also constitutes abuse of power. Moreover, the mansion was not included in official records of illegal property subject to confiscation, as it 'does not exist' in official documentation. 'The mansion exists in reality. But in the documents and in the cadastral registry, it does not. Only the land plot is registered, and its listed value is dozens of times lower—just 3 million drams (less than $8,000),' Vardapetyan noted. It is confirmed that the owner of this property is Ohanyan According to the prosecutor general, ownership of the property is confirmed by witness testimonies and search records. She noted that the electricity and gas utility accounts for the house are registered under the name of Seyran Ohanyan's mother-in-law. Ohanyan himself has not denied links to the property. 'Ohanyan admits using the property but has not explained how he financed its construction. He claims it was built using his own funds and savings,' Vardapetyan said. Another former minister accused of abusing power According to prosecutor general Anna Vardapetyan, former minister of environment Artsvik Minasyan admitted during his testimony that he was aware the land plot in question was not vacant. 'The chair of the environmental tender commission, fully aware that an unauthorized structure existed on the site, tells the government that there is no such structure and proposes launching an investment project,' she said. The prosecutor concluded that, in doing so, Minasyan abused his official position. 'The abuse lies in the fact that a private property was presented as an investment project. As a result, the state budget received no revenue. At most, property tax could have been collected—but only if the illegal construction had been legalized. And anyone with basic legal knowledge won't legalize an unauthorized structure in a specially protected area. That's why it was presented as an investment project for a 25-year period,' Vardapetyan explained. Minasyan: 'I acted in the public interest' Unlike Seyran Ohanyan, Artsvik Minasyan attended the parliamentary discussions. After the prosecutor general's remarks, he stated that either Vardapetyan had not been properly briefed or she had not reviewed the case thoroughly. 'They are accusing me of actions that, from a legal perspective, cannot be attributed to me,' he said. The lawmaker argued that claims suggesting the tender was merely a formality were false. He stressed that the body he headed was not required to verify ties between tender participants. 'I not only didn't know who had built the structure, I also didn't know whether Mr. Ohanyan was connected to it. I simply stated that, according to the information provided to me, Ohanyan was using the property,' Minasyan explained. He insisted that he had not exceeded his authority and acted in the public interest. He rejected the accusations and claimed that the process was aimed at discrediting him. 'This wasn't about group interests or personal gain. If there had been such an interest, I would admit it. There was none. I acted in the interest of the public and environmental protection,' Minasyan declared. Ohanyan: 'The goal is to distract the public from real threats' According to PM Seyran Ohanyan, the motion was submitted to parliament during his excused absence due to health issues. He claims that Article 108, Clause 3 of the National Assembly's Rules of Procedure was violated. According to this clause, the matter can be discussed without the deputy only if their absence from the session is considered unexcused. 'On July 1, I sent a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly stating that I would be unable to attend the extraordinary session, as I have been undergoing rehabilitation treatment since June 27. The treatment is ongoing. The letter was accompanied by a medical certificate,' Ohanyan said. The former defense minister believes that a 'show' is being orchestrated around him and his colleagues, serving two purposes: 'to distract public attention from the severe threats to our state created by their own actions, in coordination with Azerbaijani authorities, to systematically neutralize all political, public, military figures, philanthropists, and clergy who stand for Artsakh, Armenia, the survival of the Armenian people, and its spiritual values.' 'These people are aiming their weapons at the nation' — deputy speaker 'You cannot have a strong army when its leadership is busy building private mansions, saunas, and swimming pools at the expense of the army, national parks, and the people,' said deputy speaker of parliament Hakob Arshakyan. He reminded that the defense ministry's construction department is responsible for building military barracks, trenches, and infrastructure for soldiers—not for constructing private estates for ministers. 'This is exactly what systemic corruption looked like—the kind from which the Armenian people were freed by the 2018 revolution. Now, society wants, can, and has the will to build an Armenia where citizens live under a fair system, feel happy, and are masters of their own country. That is why these people—the former authorities—are now trying to turn their weapons against the people and the legitimate government. We won't allow it,' he said, referring to the recently uncovered coup plot. Follow us – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Criminal prosecution against Seyran Ohanyan
Powys County Times
39 minutes ago
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Cooper orders ‘crackdown' on suspected illegal working for delivery apps
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South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Cooper orders ‘crackdown' on suspected illegal working for delivery apps
Officers will carry out checks in hotspots across the country where they suspect asylum seekers are working as delivery riders without permission. It comes after Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat said they would ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months after conversations with ministers. Last week the shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, claimed in a post on X to have found evidence of people working illegally for the food delivery firms during a visit to a hotel used to house asylum seekers. On Saturday, the Home Office said anyone caught 'flagrantly abusing the system in this way' will face having state support discontinued, whether entitlement to accommodation or payments. 'Strategic, intel-driven activity will bring together officers across the UK and place an increased focus on migrants suspected of working illegally whilst in taxpayer-funded accommodation or receiving financial support,' the Home Office said. 'The law is clear that asylum seekers are only entitled to this support if they would otherwise be destitute.' Businesses who illegally employ people will also face fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years. Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. It comes as the Government struggles with its pledge to 'smash the gangs' of people-smugglers facilitating small boat crossings in the English Channel, which have reached record levels this year. Some 20,600 people have made the journey so far in 2025, up 52% on the same period in 2024. Ms Cooper said: 'Illegal working undermines honest business and undercuts local wages, the British public will not stand for it and neither will this Government. 'Often those travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by the people-smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in this country, when in reality they end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours. 'We are surging enforcement action against this pull factor, on top of returning 30,000 people with no right to be here and tightening the law through our Plan for Change.' Home Office director of enforcement, compliance and crime, Eddy Montgomery, said: 'This next step of co-ordinated activity will target those who seek to work illegally in the gig economy and exploit their status in the UK. 'That means if you are found to be working with no legal right to do so, we will use the full force of powers available to us to disrupt and stop this abuse. There will be no place to hide.' Deliveroo has said the firm takes a 'zero tolerance approach' to abuse on the platform and that despite measures put in place over the last year, 'criminals continue to seek new ways to abuse the system'. An Uber Eats spokesperson has said they will continue to invest in tools to detect illegal work and remove fraudulent accounts, while Just Eat says it is committed to strengthening safeguards 'in response to these complex and evolving challenges.' Responding to the announcement, Mr Philp said: 'It shouldn't take a visit to an asylum hotel by me as shadow home secretary to shame the Government into action.' He added: 'The Government should investigate if there is wrongdoing by the delivery platforms and if there is a case to answer, they should be prosecuted. 'This is a very serious issue because illegal working is a pull factor for illegal immigration into the UK – people smugglers actually advertise it.' Mr Philp also said women and girls were being put at risk because deliveries were being made to their homes by people 'from nationalities we know have very high rates of sex offending', without specifying which nationalities he was referring to.
