STAFF at selected North Wales Co-op branches will be issued with body-worn cameras to further increase safety in-store against a background of rising retail crime

The retailer warns of a crime and violence epidemic and its targeted deployment of body cameras forms part of an ongoing commitment to invest a further £70 million over the next three years in innovative technology to keep colleagues safer.

The roll-out of new cameras will be in around 250 stores initially, with branches in Wrexham and Rhyl expected to be included ahead of a wider roll out.

A spokesman for the Co-op said that the allocation of devices would be fluid but also crime and intelligence-led adding that stores in larger towns, cities and seasonally busier locations are likely to see the new technology.

The Co-op has seen store crime increase by more than 140 per cent year-on-year, despite communities recognising the critical role played by key retail workers in society.

The numbers of violent incidents also hit record levels with 1,350 attacks having been experienced by Co-op shop workers in the first six months of 2020 across the UK.

Cheryl Houghton, Co-op Retail security manager, said: “Shop workers play an essential role serving communities, yet they have to contend with unprecedented levels of violence and abuse on a daily basis.

“As a community retailer we see the impact of social issues in our stores. I have never seen such high levels of violence and abuse, it’s a societal issue that all retailers are concerned about and it’s having lasting effects on the lives of shop workers - both mentally and physically.

“It is not part of the job to be verbally abused, threatened or attacked and we’re determined to make sure it isn’t, calling for greater protection for shop workers carrying out public duties, and for the root causes of crime in communities to be addressed.”

The market-leading VT100 body-worn camera from Motorola Solutions can be worn in standby mode for up to six months, preserving battery for instances when Co-op store colleagues feel threatened by aggressive or violent behaviour.

The cameras are operated by a simple one-push activation, instantly recording footage to the camera itself, and streaming live video to the security operations centre, allowing for a quick response from security personnel or police.

Footage is then able to be used to identify criminals and provide evidence to secure prosecution.

The cameras are supported by cloud-hosted VideoManager software, which enables secure and efficient camera allocation, user administration and incident management.

With security features such as comprehensive audit-trails, encryption, configurable retention policies and RFID camera allocation, this integrated solution ensures footage and incidents are dealt with efficiently and securely.

Richie McBride, director of business operations, video & analytics at Motorola Solutions UK, said: “Body-worn video is becoming a critical element in commercial organisations’ strategy to keep their employees safe. As a company focused on mission-critical solutions, we provide our commercial customers with the right tools to help them enhance their operational efficiency, responsiveness and safety.

“We are proud to partner with one of the UK’s largest retailers in its work to further improve the shopping experience and enhance safety for both shoppers and staff.”

Co-op has committed a further £70 million over the next three years in innovative technology to keep colleagues safer, it has introduced: SmartWater Fog Cannons, the latest remote monitored iCCTV, body cameras and, communication headsets for all frontline colleagues.