Supermarket staff in Dublin wearing bodycams due to rise in violence
Security guards are wearing bodycams in a number of stores in crime-ridden Dublin’s inner city, such as the Tesco outlets in Thomas Street and Newmarket Square, both in the Liberties area
Supermarket staff are now wearing bodycams due to the rise in violent crime in the capital, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Tesco has given body-worn cameras to security guards in hotspot stores in Dublin, in response to the increase in street crime and anti-social behaviour in the city. It’s the first grocery chain to do so in Ireland, and follows their introduction in its busy Cork city outlet last year.
Security guards are wearing them in a number of stores in crime-ridden Dublin’s inner city, such as the Tesco outlets in Thomas Street and Newmarket Square, both in the Liberties area. Local councillor Mannix Flynn said: “The levels of attacks on staff in shops in the city is unprecedented and unacceptable.
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“Every single day, shoppers are expecting someone to explode in a supermarket after being caught shoplifting," he said. "Those doing this are extremely volatile and violent. The game has changed and the security need to be able to gather evidence. I welcome the introduction of body cams as a great idea, a health and safety measure. It will make people feel a hell of a lot safer. Tesco has to protect its staff and the public. It’s a constant battle.”
Supermarket staff say they are dealing with incidents daily, often aggressive shoplifters stealing alcohol or expensive products to re-sell on the streets, as well as threats and verbal and physical abuse. Director of Retail Ireland, Arnold Dillon, said dealing with anti-social behaviour, the harassment of staff and the rise in retail crime has become a massive challenge for many retail businesses.
“The problem has got significantly worse over recent years and businesses are having to devote much more time and money to it,” he said.
“The safety and security of workers is the absolute priority. Many businesses have invested in new security technology and security staff in response, but much more needs to be done. A much more visible Garda presence in town and city centres, and improved response times when incidents occur is key. This will require long term investment in Garda recruitment and training into the future.”
A Tesco Ireland spokesperson said: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is our utmost priority. Every day our colleagues, along with other retail workers, face abuse and threats of violence from a small number of customers, simply for doing their jobs, which is unacceptable behaviour. In addition to security personnel, we’ve invested heavily in security measures in stores, particularly those in high-incident areas.
“In the past two years, we have invested in new safety measures to keep colleagues and customers safe including security gates, trolley wheel-locks and checkout gates. We have introduced enhanced personal safety measures and training. Surveillance systems are in operation in all of our stores, and we work closely with An Garda Síochána to record all incidents and we’re grateful for their support.”
Last year, Tesco UK confirmed it offered body-worn cameras to members of staff in Britain after seeing a steep rise in physical assaults. Chief executive Ken Murphy said: “It should not have to be like this. Crime is a scourge on society and an insult to shoppers and retail workers.”
In July, Dublin publican Willie Aherne told how customers are being harassed by marauding gangs of youths, drug dealers and vagrants. The owner of the Palace Bar in the capital said: “We have customers constantly being harassed, whether it’s begging, drug-dealing, whether their drinks are being snatched from them. We are a capital city, we need the presence of guards 24/7. With the volume of tourists and the traffic that goes through the city we need the stability of yellow vests and Garda vans.
Councillor Mannix Flynn agrees lack of enforcement is the problem. “The core issues is: there are no consequences. There’s no enforcement," he said.
“It’s a high street of misery. Lots of people sprawled on the ground; lots of begging, thieving, aggravation. It’s underpinned by alcoholism and chronic addiction.”
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