Central Engand Co-op starts body cam trial to help keep store staff safe
Central England Co-op has begun a trial of body cameras to help keep store staff and security guards safe from acts of violence in-store.
The trial has initially been implemented in the retailer’s Erdington and Great Barr shops and is likely to last for six to eight weeks. If successful, the cameras could be rolled out to other stores across the country.
The move follows a high-profile Central England Co-op campaign calling for more to be done to protect shopworkers who find themselves a victim of crime. It has been backed by over 200 MPs from across the political divide.
Nicola Walton, Co-op loss prevention advisor, said: “Over the past few years we have invested heavily in a range of measures to keep our colleagues and customers safe from centrally monitored CCTV systems that can be activated at the touch of a button to increased numbers of security guards.
“We are always looking at further ways we can deter would-be criminals and this is why we have launched this body cam trial in two stores in the West Midlands.
“We are looking forward to seeing the results and hopeful it will provide another tool in our zero tolerance approach to any type of crime towards our colleagues and customers.”
Recent figures from the retailer have shown that incidents of assault, threats and intimidation, and verbal abuse have climbed by 100%, 25% and 175% respectively since the start of the year. Furthermore, there have been over 100 incidents related directly to people using Covid-19 as a threat.
Central England Co-op operates 260 stores across 16 counties.
