First for Caithness supermarkets as Lidl’s staff wear crime-busting bodycams

Lidl supermarkets in Wick and Thurso now have all staff wearing body-worn cameras in a bid to ensure the “safety and security of both customers and colleagues”.

The shopping giant has rolled out body-worn cameras, or bodycams, across all its stores in what it calls a “supermarket first”.

After investing over £2m in ensuring every store in its network has the new security measures, the rollout was set to be completed by the summer of this year.

The new venture comes after Lidl became a founding member of Project Pegasus, a business and policing partnership aimed at targeting serious and organised retail crime.

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.”

Lidl GB has become the first supermarket to rollout body-worn cameras across all its stores as standard, reinforcing its commitment to “ensuring the safety and security of both customers and colleagues”.

The discount store’s push to ensure all its outlets are equipped with cameras sets it apart from other retailers, who are either still in the trial phase, have the tech in a select number of stores or only offer them as an option to colleagues.

All Lidl colleagues have received training to ensure the cameras are used safely and in a way that protects an individual’s privacy.

Last year, 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.

Mr 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.”

Since establishing itself in Great Britain in 1994, Lidl GB has experienced continuous growth and today has over 31,000 employees, over 960 stores and 14 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales.