A shopkeeper has been cautioned that displaying photographs of alleged thieves could violate data protection regulations, following his attempts to combat retail crime through public shaming.
Suki Athwal, who runs Shop Around the Clock in the prosperous market town of Tenterden, took matters into his own hands after becoming disillusioned with police responses to theft reports.
The 30-year-old marketing graduate displayed a captured image of someone taking an energy drink without payment in his shop window, accompanied by text reading: "I'm a thief and I love Red Bull".
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His frustration stemmed from providing authorities with comprehensive evidence including CCTV footage, photographs and vehicle details, only to be informed the material was inadequate for pursuing suspects.
A community support officer subsequently visited the premises and recommended removing the display, citing potential data protection violations.
Athwal said: "I was a bit young and naive, so I took it down."
The Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed that displaying theft suspects' images in public spaces could contravene data protection legislation.
The watchdog said that whilst sharing suspect information with law enforcement, security personnel and neighbouring businesses is permissible, posting photographs on public social media platforms or in shop windows might be deemed disproportionate.
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A shopkeeper has been cautioned that displaying photographs of alleged thieves could violate data protection regulations
|The ICO's guidance indicates retailers may share images for crime prevention purposes only when deemed essential and suitable.
Despite the warning, Athwal has resumed his public shaming strategy, acknowledging potential legal consequences.
He said: "I'm at the point that I have to laugh about it. What are you going to do, just sit down and cry about it?"
The family enterprise, operating for 35 years, has witnessed escalating theft incidents during the economic downturn.
The watchdog said that posting photographs on public social media platforms or in shop windows might be deemed disproportionate
|Athwal noted criminals have become increasingly confident, with groups of teenagers brazenly grabbing merchandise before fleeing.
He's received intimidation, including window-smashing threats if posts aren't removed.
He said: "There's going to be a day someone is going to come over and I'm probably going to get punched."
Kent Police's Chief Superintendent Rob Marsh said officers achieved a 33.5 per cent resolution rate for retail theft in the year to June, rising from 27.6 per cent previously.
Suki Athwal runs Shop Around the Clock in the prosperous market town of Tenterden
|He emphasised police "have not and will not ask any business owner to remove a poster that was being used for crime prevention and awareness".
National statistics reveal 530,643 retail theft incidents were recorded in the year to March, marking a 20 per cent increase from 442,022 the previous year.
The rate of shoplifting has almost doubled over the past two decades.
The Government has adopted "shop theft" terminology rather than "shoplifting" to acknowledge the offence's severity, according to reports.