Bodyworn Cameras – a passing fashion accessory or here to stay?

Policeman, doctor, shop worker and security guard wearing bodyworn cameras
April 23, 2021
Bodyworn Cameras – a passing fashion accessory or here to stay?

According to Omdia, body-worn video in non-law enforcement applications is set to be one of the top trends in physical security in 2021.

How has this come about? We know from evidence to date that law enforcement bodies have had mixed results when using this technology. Some studies have shown that the use of Bodyworn Cameras by Police Forces has encouraged improvements in behaviour when the camera is on, both by members of the public and police officers alike. And in the UK, this technology has been heavily invested in by the majority of police forces, with the Metropolitan Police going so far as to issue a Bodyworn Camera to all frontline officers. But the technology also runs the risk of provoking negative reactions when used for law enforcement.

Bear in mind that when ‘the cops are called’, they are often arriving into an environment of heightened tension and emotion. So, it is not unheard of for those in the act of perpetrating offences, along with victims or witnesses, to react adversely when they realise that they are being filmed.

But whilst there may be challenges in how Bodyworn Cameras are deployed for law enforcement, we know from the statistics that the use of this technology across multiple other sectors is gaining huge traction globally; according to Market Research Future, the market was worth just under $444m in 2020 and is predicted to reach $1,507m in 2025.

New manufacturers such as Axis and Hikvision entering the market is a clear indication of the growing mainstream appeal of this technology.

So, for the security specialist – installer or consultant, it pays to think about offering this technology as an extension to existing expertise in video surveillance and/or access control.

Beyond the emergency services – multiple applications for Bodyworn Cameras

The Bodyworn Camera captures both audio and video digitally and this is why the technology complements fixed video surveillance systems so well. CCTV cameras are typically further away from where an incident occurs and of course, capture of audio is very challenging. The Bodyworn Camera on the other hand is often just 2-3 metres away from an event and so is much more obvious in its deployment and clearly captures both audio and video.

We know that public-facing professions have come under increasing threat of both physical and verbal abuse in recent years. Sectors such as security, retail and healthcare are deploying Bodyworn Cameras to enhance the safety of their employees.

As well as moderating behaviour for the better when members of the public realise they are being or could be recorded, cameras can also be used to document evidentially superior ‘wearer’s eye’ footage of incidents to secure convictions or uphold staff accounts.

The cameras can be connected via a docking station directly into a Video Management Solution to upload and sync data and the video can be stored in the cloud or onsite as best suits the customer.

With correctly installed back-office software, it is possible for end user customers to adopt data management policies specific to their business with features available such as customised fields, automatic footage deletion, data reports and full audit trails of recorded footage. This allows management to keep control of how Bodyworn Cameras are used within their organisation.

Footage captured from Bodyworn Cameras offers another interesting application; to enhance training and develop best practice by capturing real-life footage and bringing the theoretical to life. As well as acting as a deterrent, it is easy to see how Bodyworn Cameras can improve accountability and transparency of the wearers’ behaviour.

These benefits open up the scope of opportunity for security specialists, who can see relevance across multiple applications. Let’s take a look at these individually:

1.Retail Industry

Attacks on retail workers have been on the rise for several years now, with the pandemic only exacerbating the problem.

Back in October 2019, ASDA rolled out a successful trial utilising Bodyworn Cameras to boost in-store security. ASDA say that they have been able to enhance colleague security, diffuse aggressive and volatile situations and, interestingly, reduce investigation time into incidents - a tangible cost saving benefit. They have also been able to secure convictions for theft and violence since deployment.

The Co-op is also in the middle of investing £70m in employee safety, including Bodyworn Cameras. They are deploying a solution that is remotely monitored in real-time by a 3rd party and uses cloud-hosted video management software.

And Boots the Chemist announced a trial of Bodyworn Cameras in February 2021, whilst also petitioning Government to introduce a new offence in England of assaulting or abusing a shopworker amid what they say is a dramatic spike in incidents within retail.

So, there is an increasing appetite in this sector and uptake is gaining traction. The technology lends itself well both to moderating the behaviour of the general public and the wearer, as well as helping staff feel safer, better protected and more valued as a result.

2. Healthcare Sector

Bodyworn cameras mean no more getting away with threatening staff ‘behind the curtain’ in A&E. Properly recorded footage, both visual and audio, supports paramedics as they carry out their duties out on the public frontline. And real-life scenario-based footage is a valuable tool in training medical staff.

Unfortunately, just as the retail sector has seen a rise in violent and abusive incidents towards shopworkers, so have our frontline healthcare emergency workers. The use of Bodyworn Cameras both within hospitals and out on emergency call outs can be used to protect against assault and abuse plus produce compelling evidence in court when necessary.

Initial trials at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital within their A&E department reported staff feeling more in control whilst using a Bodyworn Camera along with a reduction in violence and aggression from the public.

3. Transportation System

In the same way as paramedics and those in A&E can suffer abuse, this is sadly a common occurrence now for transport workers too, in particular bus or coach drivers and ticket inspectors. So Bodyworn Camera devices can reduce the incidence of abuse and record vital evidence.

4. Education Sector

A new trend, it’s still early days for the deployment of Bodyworn Camera technology within our educational institutions, but it is easy to see how these could be used to protect both staff and pupils and maintain best practice. This type of solution is already being trialled for use as a deterrent to resolve issues such as classroom disruption.

5. Hospitality Industry

With our hospitality and entertainment industries on the cusp of opening back up fully after the pandemic, there is scope for widescale deployment of Bodyworn Cameras for reception staff, stewards and security personnel, particularly if venues are expected to require proof of vaccinations and encourage the public to adhere to social distancing regulations.

There is also a large public-facing body in airline hosts & hostesses dealing with increased acceptance of abusive behaviour towards them.

6. Physical Security Staff

Bodyworn cameras have been adopted by security guards for some time now. They were the most obvious area of cross over into the commercial sector once the technology proved to have potential within the law enforcement sector. There is still much growth opportunity in this sector.

7. Prison Service

This is another obvious one, with huge emphasis on staff to behave appropriately during altercations or when under threat. The use of Bodyworn Cameras within prisons or detention facilities can assist on many levels – deterring aggression, eliminating the need to activate panic buttons or radio during an incident, recording details as they unfold - perhaps in fixed IP camera blind spots - providing footage for review and that’s admissible in court, and ensuring prison officers feel valued, safe and protected.

8. Social & Mental Healthcare

Clinical staff can use body worn video cameras to supplement the fixed CCTV systems in place where there is a sufficiently open architecture to integrate successfully.

9. Other emergency services

We haven’t mentioned above the ‘4th Emergency Service’, i.e., that of roadside assistance and breakdown organisations.  It is apparent that these frontline professionals are often attending a situation where members of the public may be irate, stressed and irrational. Deployment of Bodyworn recording devices may go some way to firstly improving behaviour by customers and secondly to providing reliable evidence of an incident or dispute.

Benefits and Considerations

The key consideration for the adoption of a Bodyworn Camera system within the commercial world is that it must be simple to deploy, simple to manage and simple to use. Minimal training should be necessary, and it is imperative that the back-office management system is secure so as to safeguard data integrity along with the ability to deliver authentic evidence where required.

Security experts and end-users must be fully conversant in their data collection and privacy responsibilities and these will differ depending on both how and where the cameras are deployed – internal use for training or best practice development has a different set of rules to if you intend to submit Bodyworn Camera video evidence in court, and a solution that is resistant to tampering, manipulation or data theft would be imperative in the latter instance.

Having a clear understanding of the technology’s primary function will help shape investment decisions and maximise the ROI on existing security infrastructure. Understanding cybersecurity risks, what functionality is required and how robust the individual units need to be is key to the choices you advise your end user customer to consider.

Don’t forget to think about whether the manufacturer offers sufficient ongoing support along with how easy it is to download to any video management software. Here too, there must be robust cybersecurity processes if footage is to be relied upon at a later date.

There is also the consideration of how video footage will be stored, whether this is onsite or in the cloud.

We are not far away from units being able to live stream images as standard, rather than record now, download later. But this in itself could bring Facial Recognition implications and the Home Office are currently assessing Bodyworn camera technology among others to ensure the necessary rules are in place to protect both users and those recorded.

All these considerations aside, for the installer, Bodyworn Camera technology offers another string to your bow, an angle to win business with and an obvious complement to an existing portfolio of security products.

The Norbain Advantage

Norbain partners with some of the market leaders within the security industry to provide fully integrated cutting-edge solutions.

We can advise you and your end customer on current Bodyworn Camera solutions available in the marketplace and which solution would be best suited to your needs.

We also understand that every business is unique, and some solutions can’t be delivered in a box. That’s why we have Solutions Specialists to provide you with ongoing support, help define project roadmaps and work with you to optimise technology investments.

Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.

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