Wakefield to trial out body cameras on retail staff
The pilot scheme is to help address issues of verbal and physical abuse
Staff in some shops in Wakefield city centre are going to be given body cams after an increase in abuse.
Wakefield BID is running the project with a number of bodycams being made available for free for the pilot by Apex Radios, with the pilot running till the end of the year.
The West Yorkshire city have seen rising reports of being physically and verbally abused by the public- especially by security staff who suffer from repeated incidents of abuse and racism.
Sergeant Matt Jackson, of Wakefield Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
“Unfortunately, we have been seeing an emerging issue with retail staff, particularly security staff, reporting being repeat victims of abuse.
"What may start out as a shoplifting offence is escalating and turning into public order or assault offences, with a number of these also being racially-motivated.
“It is simply not acceptable for anyone to be subjected to this kind of behaviour in their workplace.
"We hope these bodycams will act as a deterrent but, if incidents do continue to occur, then footage captured by these cameras will assist us in building up evidence to ensure that those responsible are held accountable."
Wakefield Greggs was one of the first to receive a body camera:
Christine Armstrong, Director of Wakefield BID, also said:
“We want Wakefield to be a great place to do business and are really concerned at what we are hearing from the police and our members about the abuse that some retail staff have been subjected to."