3 minute read
Protection of Shopworkers
by 55 North
COVER STORY
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.
Central 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, 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.
“We are aware that any kind of crime can be frightening for store colleagues and this is why we are extended the rollout of the technology to over 50 stores across our trading estate.
“Over the past few years we have invested heavily in a range of measures to keep our colleagues and customers safe. Today’s news is just another way we can continue to invest in keeping people safe at work and whole they shop.
“This will provide us with another tool in our efforts to have a zero tolerance approach to any type of crime towards our colleagues and customers. We now ask shoppers to work with us to make sure that nobody has to face abuse in their place of work.”
Recent figures from Central England Co-op revealed that more than 10,000 incidents have been reported so far this year including 72 assaults, 879 cases of verbal abuse and threats, 272 anti-social behaviour reports, and 159 direct incidents related to Covid-19.
This means, compared to last year, the total number of incidents have jumped by 31.1%, with rises in verbal abuse, threats and anti-social behaviour.
Some examples of incidents have included colleagues being punched in the face by shoplifters, verbal abuse and severe damage to stores. A number of armed robberies and attempted thefts have involved the use of batons, used needles and knives.
Other recent innovations aimed at driving down crime include the expansion of centrally monitored CCTV to more stores, the further use of tracking devices in high risk products, the rollout of specialist software and technology to protect lone workers and new training packages and toolkits to ensure colleagues have all the information and skills they need to keep safe. Store Manager Gill Evans, who helped trial the body cams in store, said: “We were so pleased to be part of the trial and to find out more stores will be getting this vital technology. “Colleagues should not face any kind of abuse and these cameras act as another great deterrent to try and put people off. “However, if people still want to abuse or threaten our colleagues they provide great evidence for our work with the police in ensuring they face justice.”
