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Central England Co-op continues roll out of staff body cams The retailer has recorded more than 10,000 incidents of crime so far this year.
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entral England Co-op is rolling out staff body cameras to more than 50 stores after a successful trial designed to keep staff safe and help drive down crime in stores. The retailer, which has over 260 stores across 16 counties, initially trialled use of the technology in its Erdington and Great Barr stores, in Birmingham, in autumn 2020. Now, due to its positive impact, it will be rolled out across other stores across the business to deter threats and acts of violence towards its store staff and security guards. The news comes as the Central England Co-op has been working with other major retailers, unions, industry bodies,
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police and crime commissioners and more than 200 MPs to push the government to crack down further on those who abuse or attack shopworkers via the introduction of tougher penalties such as an automatic prison term. The UK government is still resisting introducing a specific law to protect shopworkers. However, Scotland introduced The Protection of Workers Act, which aims to give greater protection to retail workers, in August. Nicola Walton, Loss Prevention Advisor, said: “Our body camera trial was a great success. It allowed our colleagues to feel safer while serving their communities and played its part as another deterrent to prevent crimes before they take place.
