Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701
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Body Camera trial proves successful in Lancashire
FGH Security is working in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary to prevent crime and make sure people in the region have a safer night out. This year FGH Security dramatically increased the number of body cameras used by its staff following a highly successful trial in the use of them to reduce alcohol related crime and disorder.
The trial proved so successful that following a consultation process Lancashire Constabulary helped to secure additional funding from Lancaster's Community Alcohol Network. This means that now the majority of busy bars and nightclubs that FGH provides to use this technology.
Sergeant Forshaw from Lancashire Constabulary said, "A review of incidents at the premises since the introduction of the cameras has been encouraging and there are several examples where situations have been resolved without the need for police involvement." He went on to explain that, "Once people realise that their actions are being recorded, they often calm down and leave as requested. This means that not only are police officers not required but more importantly, incidents are stopped from developing." In effect this saves police being called to deal with incidents that are now preventable following the introduction of the cameras.
This was echoed by Ben Knott, the Operations Manager from FGH Security who has championed the initiative for the past five years, "From our own statistics we have seen a dramatic drop in crime and disorder at the venues where this has been implemented. In areas where we work with a large percentage of the venues and use the cameras, such as Lancaster, Barrow in Furness or areas of Greater Manchester, there is a cumulative effect which causes a significant further reduction."
Sergeant Forshaw has also witnessed a similar effect in his area, "A review of incidents at the premises since the introduction of the cameras has been encouraging and there are several examples where situations have been resolved without the need for police involvement." Besides making customers visiting the company's venues feel safer and limiting police involvement it also means that the company's Door Supervision staff members are far less likely to face physical violence during the course of their shifts.
The company has successfully utilised the technology within its Event and Security Guarding divisions with a similar impact on reducing crime. In 2015 the company are looking to utilise body worn CCTV even more with a view towards including it as part of standard uniform.
FGH Security are one of the UK's leading manned security providers and have most recently been nominated for six Security Excellence Awards based on their industry leading innovative service delivery, impact they have on the wider security industry and their focus of providing the highest possible service to their clients and local communities in which they operate.
19th November 2014