Asda chairman Lord Stuart Rose has said workers will not be offered body cameras, despite an increase in retail thefts.
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, the executive explained the supermarket didn’t use body cameras unilaterally.
“I don’t really want to get to a world where… you sit down and everybody’s photographing everybody else for whatever action they take” he said.
However, he admitted: “we do have to be careful about how our staff are exposed to dangers.”
The comments come after Tesco CEO Ken Murphy revealed staff at his supermarket were being offered body cameras after an increase in violent attacks.
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Speaking more broadly on retail theft, Rose said:
“We’ve become risk averse. It’s not seen as a crime. The police have got lots of other things to do, although Suella Brotherman now says that all crime will be investigated, so let’s see what happens”.
The grocer chair continued: “I think the call made by the Chief Executive of Tesco the other day to raise this awareness, particularly with regard to staff safety, is very important. So you know, I’m on your side. I’d like to see something done. Exactly what and how, that’s always the problem”.
“I don’t want to get to a world where everybody is photographing everybody else…”
Asda Chairman Lord Stuart Rose condemns the use of body cameras for supermarket staff.@NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/GuCMD8ysfa
— LBC (@LBC) September 5, 2023
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