A pilot project testing the use of body cameras on security staff at Saskatoon’s Superstore raises questions about their success of their use in curbing crime.
The retail establishments assert that cameras will reduce incidents of violence in stores and curb retail theft. Questions remain about whether the devices will be effective in retail establishments in Canada or if the devices could increase the costs of retail goods.
There are presently no independent studies or reputable evidence in Canada that supports the claims that body cameras will reduce violence and theft in retail establishments. Rather, the prevailing belief is that cameras will somehow deter these bad behaviours.
Most retail settings including Loblaws-owned grocery stores already have closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), yet there are reports that suggest retail theft and violent incidents have increased
in Canada, becoming a $5-billion annual problem. CCTV is not a deterrent.
Retailers in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States have utilized body cameras for years. Generally, retailers in these jurisdictions use body cameras based on beliefs and some anecdotal evidence that they reduce retail theft and decrease violent encounters between staff and shoppers.
Some self-reported research in U.K. retail settings suggests that body cameras may reduce violent and aggressive incidents between staff and customers. In one health and beauty store, a survey of its staff suggested a 68 per cent reduction in violent encounters after body cameras were introduced.
Similarly, a U.K. grocery store reported a 41 per cent decrease in violent crime in its stores after using body cameras. Of note, these U.K. findings are self-reported by retail employees and, importantly, not evidence drawn from independent studies.
We can be optimistic about these findings, but more research is necessary. Caution must also be exercised when extrapolating any data, especially anecdotal evidence. Beliefs about the effects of body cameras in Calgary, Saskatoon or elsewhere must be carefully tested by independent researchers.
Axon Enterprise Corp. — the company that manufactures body cameras and controls most of the body camera market for police — says “research and previous pilot projects [in retail settings] show the cameras act as a deterrent to reduce security incidents by at least 50 per cent.”
Axon representatives also claim that people wearing cameras are seeing 50 per cent fewer confrontational incidents. These statistics appear to come from an Axon-funded report led by emeritus professor Adrian Beck that examined the use of body cameras across 16 retailers.
The report states that “most estimates are based upon changes in relatively small numbers and so caution is required in interpreting the numbers.” As an example, the number of violent incidents across the retailers over a 90-day period decreased from 16 to five incidents.
Another conclusion from one retailer found users “estimated” that 45 per cent of the time a situation was de-escalated because of turning on the body camera. An estimation, like beliefs about body cameras, are not the same as scientific findings.
People should feel and be safe at work and should not be subjected to abuse from customers. However, from the limited available evidence, it is not clear body cameras are the solution. Then there is the unknown matter of cost.
Body cameras will not stop violent encounters or end retail theft and the expenses associated with equipping workers with cameras will surely end up costing customers.
Inflation of food prices is a leading reason why people steal, so increased costs of goods to offset expenses incurred from body cameras could just ironically lead to more retail theft.
Erick Laming is an assistant professor in criminology and sociology at Trent University. His main research examines police use of force and accountability. Christopher J. Schneider is professor of sociology at Brandon University and author of Policing and Social Media: Social Control in an Era of Digital Media.
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