Retail staff face a rise in violent attacks, especially in shops with high-value products that are easy to resell. Hardware stores and building centres, with their pricey power tools and specialty products, make them targets of shoplifters—including teams of thieves that are part of the rise in organized retail crime.
In the UK, workers in food shops are taking extra measures. Pret a Manger (store pictured), a chain of coffee and bakery shops, has given body cameras to their retail teams in six stores in an effort to combat violent behaviour from customers and keep their staff safe.
According to a company spokesperson, “We started trialling body-worn cameras in a small number of our shops as a new safety measure. These are only being worn by team leaders or managers, and are only turned on in specific circumstances.”
The cameras will not be on continuously; the individual managers would turn them on at their discretion. The retailer also put up signage in the stores to inform customers of the presence of the new technology. Access to any footage recorded will be viewed by Pret a Manger’s security team only.
This trend is not restricted to British retailers. Many large U.S. retailers are doing the same. TJX, which operates TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores, is equipping security staff in some of its stores with body cameras.
According to a survey of major chains last year by the (U.S.) National Retail Federation, 35 percent of U.S. retailers reported that they were researching providing body cameras for their workers.
