The Government’s move on live facial recognition is a Christmas gift for retail…

Last weekend was peak Fisher-family Christmas mode.

We bought the tree, put up the decorations, and stuck to our usual tradition…

One child chooses the topper, another puts it on, and I lift them up to do the honours.

Except this year, the “child” on my shoulders was Grace, who is 18. So there I was in the living room lifting her on my shoulders to get the decoration on top of the tree.

The house now looks properly festive, even cosy, which I’ll admit is mostly down to everyone but me… I just try not to break anything!

Sunday was even more Christmassy with a trip to Keydell Nurseries for their winter wonderland. The kids all got to see Santa, and James, who’s still a believer, was absolutely beaming. A small moment, but an important one.

And maybe that’s why this next bit hit me so clearly.

Last week, the Government launched a full public consultation on live facial recognition. This isn’t speculation or a rumour but a formal consultation with the intention of creating specific legislation by 2027.

For the retail sector, that is huge.

For years, critics have claimed that LFR is “unregulated.” But that simply isn’t true. GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and human rights law already govern how biometric data is processed. We’ve been operating under firm legal obligations from day one.

What this new move does, though, is something different: it offers clarity.

This is a single, dedicated legal framework that will set a consistent standard across the UK. It’s a roadmap that will make it easier, and safer, for both public and private sectors to use the technology in the right way.

And importantly, it means the government will take on part of the heavy lifting.

When the consultation results come back, they will form the evidence base for Data Protection Impact Assessments across the sector. If the public backs LFR, we’ll have a nationally endorsed foundation to build on.

The police and crime minister even called LFR “the biggest breakthrough for catching criminals since DNA.” And the rollout of 11 dedicated police LFR vehicles shows the government isn’t just talking anymore.

Now, it’s investing.

What matters now is that the retail sector must respond. The British Retail Consortium, the Association of Convenience Stores, large chains, independents, and every other stakeholder should be feeding into this consultation. Because the private sector needs to ensure the legislation includes provisions that will allow businesses to deploy the technology responsibly and effectively.

And if we get that right, the gates open. The path becomes clear and retailers will gain the confidence and legal certainty they’ve been waiting for.

We also spoke this week about something related – the unification of data.

If the future legislation supports private-sector use of LFR, then creating shared data pathways becomes even more powerful. It means independents, who can’t afford the same tools as national multiples, aren’t left behind. Everyone benefits when everyone contributes, and crime reduces across the board.

And that’s the real thread running through all of this.

Whether it’s Christmas decorations or national legislation, clear frameworks make life easier. They take away the ambiguity and they tell you what “good” looks like so you can get on with doing it.

So here’s my takeaway this week: this consultation is a gift. It’s a rare opportunity. And if the sector shows up, speaks clearly, and pushes for legislation that works for both public and private use, we could be looking at the single biggest shift in retail crime prevention in decades.

Let’s not waste the moment. The future of LFR, and the safety of our stores, depends on what we do next.