The challenge

Like many UK retailers, Poundland has seen a sharp rise in theft and aggression towards colleagues over recent years. Therefore, it wanted to improve both employee and customer safety and reduce in-store theft. Aware that other retail businesses, especially in high-risk areas, had started equipping their store colleagues with body cameras to help address these challenges, Poundland was interested in finding out more.

The solution

Following a successful trial, VT100 body cameras have now been deployed by CSE Crosscom in 177 stores across Poundland and Dealz. Stores across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were selected based on their incident and shrinkage data, with teams in several Pepco stores also equipped with the cameras.

Every evening the cameras are charged on the port docks and, via the dock controller, footage is uploaded to Poundland’s central servers and automatically stored for 30 days. If any of the footage needs to be used as evidence, or is of particular interest, this is reported, and Poundland’s loss prevention and investigations team, based at its HQ, downloads the relevant recordings.

The team uses VideoManager software to prepare, process and share footage captured, tagging them (for example, as a theft, colleagues abuse or assault), associating them with incidents internally and matching them with CCTV footage and other data relating to incidents. This information is saved on Poundland’s central database for three years and is, when needed, escalated to Poundland management teams or the relevant law enforcement or legal agencies.

The result

Having analysed data from the six months before and after installation, the stores where body cameras have been deployed have seen an average of an 11 per cent decrease in incidents reported, specifically violence towards colleagues, whereas stores without the body cameras have seen a significant increase, especially in violent, weaponised crime. A high number of spotlight stores (high shrinkage outlets) have benefited from a significant decrease in shoplifting.

“We have three main business goals: love our customers, care for our colleagues and protect the pounds. Our body cameras allow us to achieve all of these. They are helping us create a safer in-store environment, gather vital evidence and reduce shop theft.”

– Dan Hayward, National Profit Protection Manager

Feedback has been excellent, with teams praising the ease of use and breadth of capability of both the cameras and VideoManager software, as well as the clarity of both the audio and the video; the latter has a wide panoramic range and can capture video in areas not covered by CCTV. Operators have also been impressed with the high level of detail, which can be invaluable when giving evidence.

“Retail should not be a high-risk occupation. As a company, we are focused on listening to our colleagues and customers to help them with the issues they are facing in-store and so far, the feedback on our body cameras has been excellent. They act as a great visual deterrent, help to de-escalate situations and overall, this project has significantly aided our goal to make the retail environment safer.”

– Christina Jesty, Head of Profit Protection

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