Skip site workers to wear body cameras

Trials in Crieff and Kinross in response to rise in assaults

Skip site workers are being issued with body-worn cameras after an alarming rise in assaults.

Perth and Kinross Council has announced a trial safety scheme at two recycling centres.

Staff will be given video cameras to record confrontations, which local authority bosses hope will curb violent incidents as well as protecting staff from “unfounded” complaints.

If the 12-week scheme at Crieff and Kinross proves effective, the cameras could be rolled out across the area.

Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the rate of assaults on skip staff has more than doubled to 13 this year, compared with six the year before.

Signs have been installed at waste sites across the region, warning that any abusive and threatening behaviour will be reported to police.

Body-worn cameras will be issued to frontline council staff after a surge in assaults.

The devices will be used by recycling centre workers as part of a 12-week trial, Perth and Kinross Council said.

In the last year, the rate of attacks on skip site crews has more than doubled to 13 from six throughout 2016, a freedom of information request has revealed. There were fewer than five recorded in the year before.

Council bosses say they hope the cameras will help curb the marked increase in violence and aggression from members of the public, while protecting staff from “unfounded complaints”.

It is an about-turn for the local authority which said in October it would not follow the example of local authorities in Angus and Fife which issued cameras to their recycling staff.

The vast majority of hostile incidents were recorded at recycling centres, the council said. The trial will be carried out at sites in Kinross and Crieff.

The cameras will only record when activated by staff. They have been instructed to use them if they believe an “inflammatory situation” is developing.

A council spokeswoman said: “Primarily it is hoped that the cameras will deter individuals from engaging in anti-social behaviour while also providing documented evidence of violence or aggression.

“Not only has it been shown that the wearing of body cameras reduces assaults by a third, but it also proves essential to criminal proceedings.”

Police Scotland has also estimated that similar trial schemes in Aberdeen and Paisley saved more than £140,000 in court, police and prosecution costs.

The council has stressed that private impact assessments would be carried out on all footage, which would be destroyed within 28 days unless needed for evidence.

Conservative councillor Colin Stewart said: “I believe this technology will not only protect staff, but also help drive down unfounded complaints against employees and enable the council to gather better evidence for swifter justice.

“These cameras will protect members of staff and the public, discourage physical assaults and aggressive or abusive behaviour towards council staff and deter and detect crime and antisocial behaviour.”

The pilot scheme will be reviewed after 12 weeks and if successful, could be rolled out to environmental services across the region.

Staff will be instructed to use the cameras if they believe an inflammatory situation is developing.