After an initial pilot that involved 83 branches across the UK, Boots is now in the process of rolling out body-worn cameras to a further 225 pharmacies, it announced last week (August 26).

This means that Boots teams at over 300 branches will soon have access to body cameras,  a spokesperson from the multiple told C+D today.

Read more: ‘No other option’: Knights Pharmacy gets security guards and counselling for staff

Boots started trialling body worn video cameras in a small number of pharmacies in Birmingham at the beginning of 2021, gradually expanding to Sheffield and Rotherham, C+D reported last year.

Cameras reduce violence

“Boots has seen that body-worn cameras have reduced the number of incidents involving violence and aggression towards its team members,” the multiple wrote in its announcement.

Its Birmingham branches participating in the pilot, for example, saw a “68% reduction in incidents”, Boots stated.

Boots security and incident manager Iona Blake said that branches where staff “consistently wear their devices have seen around a 45% reduction in incidents”.

She added that team members also feel “safer and more confident […] wearing them”.

The cameras also act “as a visual deterrent that prevent incidents escalating”, Boots wrote.

In an effort to reduce crime in its branches, the multiple has also installed panic alarms, “a state-of-the-art CCTV monitoring centre unit”, and headsets allowing team members to communicate faster in larger branches.

Read all of the findings from C+D’s crimes in pharmacies investigation in our dedicated hub and sign our petition asking for commissioners to provide community pharmacies with funding to cover additional security measures.

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