Value giant Poundland has reported a drop in violence and theft across stores after it deployed body cameras for its employees.

The discount retailer introduced VT100 body cameras as part of its ‘Against Retail Crime’ initiative it launched earlier this year in mid-January.

Since launching the pilot, Poundland said it had seen an 11% decrease in incidents of violence against staff, along with a marked reduction in shoplifting and theft.

The body-worn cameras have been rolled out by Poundland in stores with the highest levels of crime and violence.

The move builds on the Against Retail Crime initiative, which Poundland has called its “largest-ever investment into anti-theft technology and security” to address mounting levels of shop theft, abuse and harassment faced by store staff.

Poundland said that “as a high-street focused and value-led retailer”, it has “been a particular target of theft and abuse”, which is why the retailer is making the investment.

This comes as retail faces a growing epidemic of crime and violence against its store staff – as evidenced in the BRC’s last crime survey, which found an average of 1,300 cases of theft or crime being reported by retailers daily – a 50% increase compared to the previous year.

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