The checkouts will confirm the user’s age by using a smartphone app called Yoti, which scans the shopper’s face to confirm their identity. It is hoped the technology can remove a key bottleneck at self-service tills - the requirement that assistants must still check identification when buying age-restricted goods

The Yoti app is set up by taking a photo and scanning a person’s driving licence or passport, at which point the two are tied together. The app is then able to confirm its owner’s identity at any time by them taking a selfie. The company is working with NCR who make self-service supermarket tills and have confirmed two of the big four supermarkets have received approval to pilot the technology early next year.

Using Yoti at a self service till would involve scanning a QR code showing up on the checkout screen. The Yoti app would then scan the shopper's face to confirm their identity, and would then connect to the till over the internet to verify the purchase.

Yoti says almost 100,000 people in the UK have downloaded its app during a beta test. It says the technology could also be used to fight ticket touts and cut down on online fraud. We're hoping that it will also extend to satisfying the archaic Anti-Money Laundering requirements that we carry out for every client. It really is crazy that in this technological age we are still having to photocopy clients' passports, drivers licences and proof of address when an app like Yoti could confirm that in a much more data secure way!