Posted by 
More and more Australian retail staff are using body cameras to protect themselves from a sickening surge in violent customer incidents.
Physical, verbal and even sexual assaults on staff are on the rise and Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths are cracking down with CCTV and bodycams.
The three retail giants initially trialled staff-worn body cameras and some workers are now permanently using them in stores across the country.
READ MORE: Cop who killed great-grandmother suspended from force
Bunnings was hammered earlier this month after it breached privacy laws with the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) and it hit back with confronting CCTV proof of why it needed to surveil customers.
The hardware giant has now confirmed to 9news.com.au its workers use "team safety cameras", otherwise known as body cameras, to handle threatening situations.
Bunnings said the cameras were part of its training and policies to help combat the rise of criminal customer behaviour, which includes physical assaults, the use of weapons and shoplifting.
It began trialling cameras in 2022 in select stores.
Compilation footage of customers threatening Bunnings staff members with weapons and physically attacking them was released following findings by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Bunnings said footage included examples of incidents that have taken place across the entire store network in Australia and New Zealand.
READ MORE: Woman charged with trying to drown two girls in Sydney
Staff-worn cameras are regularly used in grocery stores too.
A spokesperson for Coles confirmed some targeted stores were equipping employees with cameras.
It started rolling out body-worn cameras in September to address a spike in theft and customer abuse.
"It's important to note that the majority of customers do the right thing in store. Measures like this are for the ones who don't," a Coles spokesperson told 9news.com.au.
"The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority, and we have a range of security measures in place to reduce theft from our stores including security personnel and surveillance technologies such as CCTV."
Coles does not use facial recognition technology.
Staff can choose to activate their body cameras if they feel threatened, the spokesperson said.
"They can easily request emergency assistance in the event of an emergency or threatening situation," the spokesperson added.
"Every effort will be made to inform the customer that they are turning it on for safety.
"The body-worn cameras have been well received by team members, who feel that the technology benefits them if faced with a threatening situation."
READ MORE: Your guide to saving more in the Black Friday sales
Woolworths rolled out a staff body camera trial in 2021 to combat incidents of physical and sexual assault.
A spokesperson confirmed they are still being used in some locations.
"Team safety cameras have been introduced across a number of our stores around the country," the Woolworths spokesperson said.
"We're always looking at different methods to ensure the safety of our team and customers."
Woolworths also does not use facial recognition technology in any of its stores.
There is a push for tougher measures to stop customers assaulting retail workers in Australia.
For the 12 months ending in April 2024, there were around 700,000 retail crime events seen by Aussie retailers.
READ MORE: Astronomers may have discovered the answer to a mysterious stellar event
In September, Queensland introduced legislation to enforce stronger penalties for violent customers, including in the retail sector.
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) chief executive Paul Zahra said more needed to be done at a national level.
"We want to see harsher penalties for people committing violence in retail-specific work settings," Zahra said.
"No one should go to work fearing for their safety, but unfortunately this is the reality for many retail workers. "
