Lincolnshire Co-op has announced plans to roll out body cameras across its 99 food stores and 44 pharmacies as part of a £200,000 investment.

The move, which follows a successful trial at four locations earlier this year, aims to address an increasing levels of threats, abuse and violent incidents taking place across Lincolnshire Co-op’s stores.

The retailer said it has seen a 245 per cent increase in incidents of threats and abuse to its employees over the past five years.

In the past 12-months, there were 127 incidents recorded in food stores and 23 in pharmacies.

The new cameras are front facing to show the customers what employees see, which Lincolnshire Co-op said may help with de-escalating incidents or make people think twice about what they are doing.

There are also a range of other security measures in place at Lincolnshire Co-op stores, including security guards in some locations, CCTV monitored by central service desk, and personal attack alarms.

The company added that teams in food stores use headsets to communicate with other colleagues, which can be a deterrent to offenders.

“The vast majority of our customers are polite and respectful, but there are a minority whose actions are unacceptable,” said Security Manager Mark Foulds. “This not only impacts on our colleagues – who are simply trying to provide the best service they can to our communities – but it can also impact on our other customers, who can find these incidents distressing and who don’t want to see our colleagues treated in that way.”

Banning orders are also used against known perpetrators, with the Lincolnshire Co-op saying its security team works closely with local police forces to pursue Criminal Behaviour Orders against prolific offenders.

In March this year, the UK government said it will introduce new legislation that will make assaulting retail workers a specific criminal offence. The move came after British retailers demanded the government tackle rising rates of retail crime, calling for those caught assaulting or abusing a retail worker to face a standalone offence.

Earlier this week the British Retail Consortium (BRC) called for delivery drivers to be included in the standalone offence, with the trade association revealing that many will be equipped with personal safety devices and DNA spit testing kits over the busy festive season.

According to the organisation, up to a third of all retail sales will be made online during the run up to Christmas, meaning delivery drivers will be "busier than ever".

Lidl became the first UK supermarket to introduce body cameras in all its stores in November last year. The move cost the retailer around £2 million, with Lidl employees receiving training to ensure the cameras are used safely and in a way that protects an individual’s privacy,

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