November 28th 2024.
Recently, there has been a disturbing increase in violent incidents towards Australian retail staff. In order to protect themselves, more and more employees are turning to body cameras as a means of safeguarding against physical, verbal, and even sexual assaults. Major retail chains such as Bunnings, Coles, and Woolworths have taken notice of this alarming trend and are taking action by implementing CCTV and body cameras in their stores.
Initially, the use of staff-worn body cameras was trialed by these retail giants, but due to the escalating number of violent incidents, many workers have now permanently adopted them as a necessary tool in their daily routines. Bunnings, in particular, has been under scrutiny after facing allegations of breaching privacy laws through the use of facial recognition technology. In response, the company released CCTV footage of customer confrontations to demonstrate the need for surveillance measures. The hardware giant has confirmed that their employees utilize "team safety cameras", also known as body cameras, to handle threatening situations.
According to Bunnings, these cameras are an essential part of their training and policies in order to combat criminal behavior from customers, including physical assaults, the use of weapons, and shoplifting. The use of body cameras was first introduced in select stores in 2022, and compilation footage of incidents captured by these cameras was released after an investigation by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Aside from Bunnings, other retailers, including grocery stores, have also adopted the use of staff-worn cameras. Coles, for example, has confirmed that some targeted stores have equipped their employees with cameras in response to a surge in theft and customer abuse. A spokesperson for Coles emphasized that while the majority of customers do the right thing, these measures are necessary for those who do not. They also clarified that Coles does not use facial recognition technology and that staff can choose to activate their body cameras if they feel threatened.
Similarly, Woolworths also launched a trial of staff body cameras in 2021 to address incidents of physical and sexual assault. These cameras are still being utilized in some locations, according to a spokesperson from the company. They further explained that the introduction of these "team safety cameras" is part of Woolworths' ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.
The use of facial recognition technology has been a controversial topic, with Bunnings and Woolworths both confirming that they do not use it in any of their stores. Coles, on the other hand, stated that their focus is on providing emergency assistance to staff in the event of a threatening situation and that every effort will be made to inform the customer before turning on the camera.
There has been a growing call for stricter measures to address the issue of customer violence towards retail workers. In the 12 months leading up to April 2024, there were approximately 700,000 retail crime incidents reported by Australian retailers. In response, Queensland has introduced legislation to enforce stronger penalties for violent customers, including those in the retail sector. However, according to the Australian Retailers Association, more needs to be done at a national level to ensure the safety of retail workers. Their chief executive, Paul Zahra, emphasized the need for harsher penalties for those who commit violence in retail-specific work settings, stating that no one should have to fear for their safety while at work.
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