Pret A Manger is handing body cameras to its staff as attacks on retail workers and shoplifting crimes across the UK worsen.
The sandwich maker has launched a trial of the body-worn cameras in six shops across London and put up signs informing customers about them, The Telegraph reported.
A Pret spokesperson said the cameras, which were introduced last month, will be worn only by team leaders or managers and activated only in specific situations. Footage will be accessible exclusively by Pret’s security team.
Though its trial began before far-Right riots hit British high streets over the last week and is not linked to them.
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It comes as retailers grapple with surging rates of shoplifting and aggressive behaviour towards staff in the wake of the pandemic.
In the year leading up to March 2024, a total of shoplifting 443,995 offences were reported by police forces, marking a 30% increase from the 342,428 incidents logged in the previous year.
Sir Keir Starmer made curbing the rise in retail crime a key priority in Labour’s manifesto in June before taking office, pledging to lower crime rates by introducing a new standalone offence for assaulting shop workers.
The trial follows similar moves by companies such as discount giant Lidl, which spent £2m on body-worn cameras for its store staff nationwide last year.
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