Campaign Win: Morrisons to end use of Hikvision cameras
Supermarket chain’s Corporate Affairs Director cites ethical concerns as a driving force behind the decision.
In response to a joint letter from Big Brother Watch, Free Tibet, Hong Kong Watch, and Stop Uyghur Genocide, the UK supermarket chain Morrisons has joined Tesco in pledging to end their use of Hikvision cameras.
The four organisations had contacted Morrisons, along with the Co-op and Marks and Spencer, in February to raise the company’s use of security equipment by Chinese companies Dahua and Hikvision.
Morrisons’ Corporate Affairs Director confirmed via email that the chain had ceased purchasing Hikvision and Dahua CCTV cameras in 2022 and are now in the process of phasing them out of operations. Ethical and security concerns around the corporations were cited as key reasons why the supermarket chain has ended their purchase of Hikvision products.
On a roll
This news from Morrisons comes as both public and private bodies are looking upon Hikvision with increased scrutiny. In November 2022, City of Edinburgh Council announced that they would be removing all Hikvision cameras from the public realm.
At least 1.2 million Hikvision cameras are believed to be across the UK and are being used by over 200 local councils, as well as hospitals, police forces, schools and at army barracks. With each campaign victory, we put a dent in these numbers.
We cannot do this work without you
We have a huge opportunity to create real change. In the coming weeks, MPs will debate the Procurement Bill. An amendment to the bill is on the table, specifying that surveillance equipment produced by companies like Hikvision be removed from the UK government’s procurement supply chain, and requiring the government to commit to a plan for the removal of such surveillance equipment.
These strong commitments are exactly what we need if we want to ensure Hikvision is removed from the UK. The government has already tried to water down the Procurement Bill – we need you to tell your MP why this amendment is so vital, for the UK and for Tibet.
