After a trial, which began in 2016, more than 900 Edesix VideoBadges, Body Worn Cameras (BWC), are in use in over 250 Asda stores nationwide, with more expected in the near future.
Edesix worked with CBES, Asda’s preferred security installer, to design and install a tailored wearable CCTV for retail deployment. Edesix and CBES worked at Asda’s national security centre and across four stores initially for the cameras to be rolled out in other stores with minimum impact. The product, described as intuitive to use and requiring minimum training, has enabled staff to integrate the cameras into their daily working processes, the product firm says.
Asda says that it has been able to improve staff security, defuse aggressive and volatile situations and reduce investigation time, thus reducing costs. Since the deployment, Asda has proven the viability of these cameras by evidence leading to numerous convictions of in-store theft and violence against staff.
Richie McBride, managing director of Edesix, says: “Asda, along with CBES, identified the need to re-think its key security policy around challenging aggressive behaviour towards staff. In searching for a technology partner, CBES chose Edesix as their BWC provider, to deploy initially to the most affected stores, eventually rolling out to over 250 sites across the UK. The aim was to improve the safety of colleagues in public facing roles and shoppers within the stores, whilst producing compelling evidence when needed. The body worn cameras act as a confrontation preventer, as it is proven that members of the public are far less aggressive to staff members if they know they are being filmed.”
About Edesix
The UK firm was recently acquired by US-based security firm Vigilant Solutions. It’s won contracts with the likes of UK prisons, Scotrail and South Australian Police, and has been named in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100. Visit www.Edesix.com.
