Ann Summers has become the latest retailer to give its UK staff body cameras as workers grapple with sexual harassment and shoplifting.
The lingerie chain said it was conducting trials of the technology across a few shops.
It follows other household names Tesco, the Co-op and Lidl, which are providing staff with bodycams to protect them from abuse and assaults.
And it comes after Ann Summers’ boss said the retailer is often seen as ‘fair game’ to target because it sells sex toys and underwear.
There were more than 2,000 violent or abusive incidents every day last year, according to the British Retail Consortium’s crime survey.
This was despite the industry investing £1.8billion into bolstering security, including the rollout of body cameras, panic buttons and CCTV.
Cameras: Ann Summers has become the latest retailer to give its UK staff body cameras
Retail workers have also reported being sworn at, being subjected to racial and sexual insults, physically threatened, spat on and being victims of physical violence.
And at Ann Summers, boss Maria Hollins last year said her shops have been targeted by ‘pervy phone calls’ to the point where it has taken phone numbers off its website.
‘Shoplifting has gone up significantly through the cost of living crisis, but it’s not just shoplifting, it’s actually abuse of our store colleagues.
‘Because of the nature of what we sell, some people see us as fair game, so we have to be really vigilant,’ Ms Hollins told The Telegraph.
New strategy: The lingerie chain said it was conducting trials of the technology across a few shops
She also urged the police to ‘take these instances more seriously’ amid criticism from retailers that authorities often do not respond to reports of crimes from shops.
In a LinkedIn post, Ann Summers yesterday said: ‘It’s no secret that over the past few years the rising incidents of antisocial behaviour and theft in stores has become increasingly challenging for retail teams.
‘The personal safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is absolutely essential, so creating safe spaces for both them and our customers is a priority.’
‘Our intention is for this solution to reinforce a culture of respect, and significantly reduce the issues faced in store, ultimately ensuring our teams feel safe and supported.’
It said it was trialling body-worn cameras ‘across a number of locations’. It has around 80 shops.
The cameras are clipped onto a worker’s clothes and can record distressing situations to help provide evidence to the police.
Companies are turning to a wide range of security measures as they face unprecedented levels of theft and violence against staff.
Chains including Tesco, Morrisons, Boots, Primark and Greggs said last month they would start submitting CCTV and photos of prolific shoplifters into a new database to be shared with police.
The hope is that the database, known as Auror and pioneered in New Zealand, will provide security guards with watchlists so they can bar entry to repeat offenders.
The Daily Mail has sounded the alarm on the issue with its End The Shoplifting Epidemic campaign.
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This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .