Body-worn cameras vs CCTV in retail

Retail environments are open to the public, and while most visitors are welcome, not every customer is desirable. Vigilance is key. While retail CCTV systems provide a foundational level of security, body-worn cameras offer the added benefits of close-up impressions and clear audio recording. These features can be instrumental in addressing common retail challenges, such as shoplifting and dealing with abusive customers. This article highlights the role of body-worn cameras in keeping your staff and your stock safe and explores additional benefits of body-worn cameras in retail settings.

Retail News reports that over 402,000 instances of shoplifting were reported to police in 2023 alone. Additionally, 1,300 cases of violence and abuse against retail staff were addressed by the authorities. Now, consider all the cases that went unreported. The real figure could be staggering. Overall, the British Retail Consortium estimates a cumulative cost of £3.3bn in crime-related costs to retailers in the UK. 

This doesn’t take the costs of staff turnover and the possible loss of customers into account. 

CCTV systems in retail

We’ve become accustomed to CCTV cameras in retail shops for decades. Recently, there have been huge advances that make them even more effective. For example, intelligent monitoring systems from manufacturers such as Avigilon mean that it’s not necessary to have people constantly watching screens for signs of trouble. CCTV monitoring software can be trained to spot shoplifting, violence, or threatening behaviour as it happens, alerting store security. 

Benefits of CCTV in retail

Security footage can serve as proof if individuals deny their actions. Modern retail CCTV systems allow you to scan, pan, and zoom in on suspicious activity—a big improvement over the old flickering, low-quality footage of earlier CCTV systems. 

CCTV – or, if you choose the more modern iteration of this technology, IP cameras, can benefit retail businesses in multiple ways. 

• They deter theft. Thieves seek out easy targets. They don’t want to be spotted or recorded. The mere presence of CCTV in retail stores discourages potential thieves.
• They record routine activities. You can analyse the footage to look for more efficient ways to get things done.
• They can protect you from liability claims. This is best illustrated with an example. A customer trips and falls, sustaining injuries. They blame your store, saying that the shopping environment was unsafe. But is the accident really your fault? CCTV footage will show how the accident happened.
• You can check in from any location. Whether you’re on-site, at home, or even abroad, you can check in and see what’s happening in-store at any time of the day or night. IP cameras can alert you to unusual activity, and you can decide whether it’s legitimate or not. 

Body-worn cameras in retail

Often, shoplifting and abuse of staff when they confront offenders go hand-in-hand. Even when shoplifting or other forms of theft aren’t part of the issue, disaffected shoppers sometimes take out their frustrations on store employees. 

When confronted about their behaviour, offenders will do everything they can to shift the blame. In a situation like this, fairness is the guiding principle: did your employee really provoke your customer?

Body-worn camera footage provides an up-close-and-personal perspective of incidents. This includes video shot from the workers’ perspective as well as audio that records what was said at the time. But, as we shall see, there are more benefits to body-worn cameras than just evidence-gathering. 

Benefits of body-worn cameras in retail

Body-worn cameras are gaining traction beyond the emergency services and police as growing numbers of businesses, including retailers, adopt them. Besides gathering evidence that you can use against shoplifters or abusive customers, they have many other benefits. 

• Deter crime and violence. What’s better than successfully prosecuting a criminal? Preventing crime in the first place is the ideal solution. The British Safety Council acknowledges that body-worn cameras act as an effective deterrent. When people know they’re on camera, they are less likely to offend.
• Improve sales and customer service. Show trainees the right way to handle sales and service interactions using real-life examples drawn from body camera footage. And also how to handle customer complaints based on evidence rather than hearsay.
• Enhance workplace safety and improve morale. Investigate safety-related incidents and workplace accidents to help you prevent them in future. Ensure that workers can call for help in an emergency. Body cameras allow staff members to perform their duties with greater confidence, knowing that there’s support if they need it.

• Prevent fraud and resolve disputes at checkout. Fraud and trickery at the tills can be hard to detect, and perpetrators slip away feeling sure they won’t get caught. And, there are times when customers raise disputes that may or may not be justified. For example, they accuse shop assistants of short-changing them. Body-worn cameras can help you uncover the facts. 

Similarities and differences between CCTV and BWCs

Both types of devices can stream footage in real time. Both allow you to monitor unfolding events and keep a record you can refer to if needed. CCTV has the advantage of monitoring spaces when nobody is present and provides an overview of events. BWCs show individual perspectives, finer details that CCTV may miss, and will clearly record audio. 

Together, CCTV and body-worn cameras help you monitor your retail store from a variety of perspectives, each of which may be useful to you. Both will help you improve retail store security while helping your workers stay safe. But, because workers control their cameras, they can set off panic alarms if they feel threatened. This allows your business to react faster before situations have time to escalate enough to be noticed over CCTV. 

Body-worn cameras are compact and attach easily to staff uniforms, allowing free mobility and greater coverage, and ultimately capturing more information than CCTV. Additionally, the visible presence of body-worn cameras can act as an immediate deterrent to potential offenders, while CCTV typically works as a reactive tool, providing footage for review after incidents occur.

Need help getting started with body-worn cameras?

Radiocoms, a company specialising in workplace communication technology, is a trusted supplier of Motorola Solutions body-worn cameras. We are active across industries ranging from retail to healthcare and emergency services. Our team of specialists provides ongoing support to help you make the most of this technology, reducing shrinkage and helping your people enjoy a safer workplace. Contact us today for more information.

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