Home » UK Business News • UK Employment news » Aldi offers staff body cameras to combat shoplifting

Aldi offers staff body cameras to combat shoplifting

By Nithya Bose in UK Business News, posted September 27, 2023

Aldi has joined the ranks of supermarkets offering body-worn cameras to its staff as shoplifting surges.

CEO Giles Hurley said the move is being tested in select stores to enhance employee safety and deter criminal activity.

He said: “There’s an uptick [in shoplifting] across the industry and we’re not immune to that. It is a top priority for us.

“With body cams, we currently have a trial which is underway in part of our business, exploring what benefits we can derive from that for our colleagues.

“We have an absolutely fantastic team here at Aldi and we are very clear that they should expect a safe and secure working environment and it is therefore a priority for us.”

He said there are more security measures, including bag checks at checkouts, to address the increasing crime rates.

Hurley said: “Our management teams are well attuned to monitoring those and tightening them when there are localised issues.

“It’s something that we’re working on with and through the industry to try and drive improvements.”

Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career

Aldi's announcement comes as the grocer reported a remarkable 196 percent profit increase.

It reached £178.7 million in the fiscal year ending December 2022.

This rise in profitability has been attributed to a new generation of cost-conscious shoppers turning away from traditional full-price supermarkets.

Other major grocery chains have also introduced body-worn camera trials in response to rising crime rates.

After a rise in violent attacks, Tesco recently offered body cameras to its shop workers.

Similarly, Morrisons has initiated a body-worn camera trial in 25 locations, with plans for a broader rollout.

Follow us on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.