Tesco shoppers who purchase their groceries online might notice a key change when their orders arrive at their homes. The British supermarket, which has offered home delivery services for decades now, is rolling out body cameras for its delivery staff. The cameras will be given to more than 5,000 delivery workers from 100 stores across the UK by the end of 2025 in a bid to help them feel safer at work.
The move comes in response to an escalated number of threats and violence experienced by its delivery drivers over the last few years. Tesco fulfils 1.45 million online orders per week and hopes the camera will reduce violent and threatening incidents by 50% as a trial showed that they work as a deterrent for such incidents. However, the cameras are only switched on if a driver feels unsafe, so they won’t always be recording.
Delivery drivers have been dealing with more difficulties as they are now legally required to age-verify customers buying restricted goods such as knives, in addition to the usual items like tobacco and alcohol. The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) welcomes the move and revealed that its members feel vulnerable to attack as a result of this new law regarding knives.
A union survey of 300 workers revealed that 77% had been a victim of abuse and 13% were assaulted. Meanwhile, 26% of respondents had refused a delivery due to fear for their own personal safety in the past year.
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO said: “Nobody should have to face verbal or physical abuse at work, and the rollout of body worn cameras will help us protect our drivers, deter would-be offenders and reduce the number of serious incidents.”
He added: “The safety of our customers and colleagues will always be our first priority and we are making significant investments to make sure we lead the way in tackling retail crime and ensure everyone feels safe whenever they shop with Tesco.”
The government is introducing a stand-alone offence of assaulting a retail worker in its Crime and Policing Bill, but it does not include delivery drivers. Both Tesco and USDAW have called for delivery drivers to be included, pointing out that the “work alone without the protection that comes with being in a store”.
Prasad added: “No retailer can tackle this issue alone and that’s why we welcome the government’s Crime and Policing Bill and encourage them to go further – sending a message to offenders by extending the standalone offence to cover online delivery drivers.”