It’s a tough world out there for frontline workers and the abuse many retail staff receive on a daily basis has reached unacceptable levels. CCTV and social media posts are full of examples but they do very little to prevent the incidents from happening. A body worn camera does make a difference. It makes it very clear to the aggressor they are being recorded officially and there’s a high chance the incident will not escalate.
In a 2024 report on retail worker safety, Motorola Solutions found more than a quarter of workers have considered quitting their jobs due to safety concerns, about half of workers think body cameras could make them feel safer and the majority believe body camera recordings could aid in investigations. In the U.K., where body cameras are more widely adopted, 70 per cent said body cameras are effective in de-escalating dangerous situations.
In response to rising aggression in public spaces, Motorola Solutions will soon release its V200 body camera, a discreet, lightweight device with video recording and live streaming capabilities at the press of a button. Image Matrix Tech was granted exclusive access to the camera and support system in Melbourne last week.
As I explained the Sky News segment above, this camera is ideal for frontline workers in shopping centres, hospitals, hotels, schools, and stadiums. It was very easy to operate, just press the large button on the front and the device will begin recording. At the same time it will alert the supporting software it is active. You can view and share the video from device, including audio if desired.
The video is stored in Australian data centres with high levels of security. I was impressed with the demo because of the simple execution of the process. A lot of demos I attend never work first try, so this was a pleasant surprise. The control centre can even talk through the speaker on the V200 if direct intervention is needed, like a medical emergency.
I believe this system is very affordable. You could get a managed system with Motorola Solutions plus a couple of V200 cameras for around A$1,000. The cameras are smart but you are really paying for a security and safety system that does all the hard work for you.
I’ll be doing a longer video explainer on Image Matrix Tech later in the week.
