Lidl has said it will soon begin the rollout of body-worn cameras across all of its UK stores following an investment of over £2 million.
Stores across Lidl GB’s network will start to receive the security measures from the end of November making it the first supermarket to adopt the approach as standard. Through the move, the retailer is aiming to combat organised retail crime across the UK.
It said that employees will receive training to ensure the cameras are used safely and in a way that protects an individual’s privacy, and that the rollout will complete by Spring 2024,
Ryan McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer, at Lidl GB, said: “As a business with over 960 stores across the length and breadth of the country, safety and security has always been an absolute priority for us. While our stores are typically safe environments, retail crime is something that is impacting the whole industry. Our investment into ensuring all our stores have body-worn cameras is just one of the ways we’re taking action to protect and provide reassurance to our colleagues and customers.”
Last month, Lidl became a founding member of Project Pegasus, a business and policing partnership that aims to combine law enforcement powers with industry knowledge to target serious and organised retail crime, committing £60k of funding over two years.
McDonnell added: “It is essential that the industry comes together to find new and innovative ways to combat serious and organised retail crime across the UK. Amongst our own initiatives, we’re proud to be part of Project Pegasus, which presents a real opportunity for retailers, police forces, and the Home Office to work together to address the alarming rise of incidents facing retail workers every day.”
Elsewhere, other retailers in the UK have been implementing other measures to deal with in-store crime. In September, Co-op said it was extending its trial of anti-theft, empty, ‘dummy display packaging’ to help curb bulk-shoplifting in its stores. The decision was taken with industry reports showing that almost two-thirds (63%) of crime is driven by repeat and prolific offenders, with drug or alcohol addictions and, local organised criminal gangs, among the main drivers of offending.
