Shopkeepers have been warned putting shoplifters' pictures in their windows risks breaching data protection.
It comes days after a business owner was told by police to remove a sign calling thieves 'scumbags'.
Now the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) suggested the practice 'may not be appropriate' behaviour.
On an advice page for tackling shoplifters, the watchdog said stores 'must only share personal information that's proportionate and necessary to achieve your purpose'.
Richard Tice, Reform UK leader, said: 'We should be letting the general public know of the photographs of people who have a track record of stealing in towns.
