Body cameras introduced for Renfrewshire recycling centre workers

Renfrewshire Council has introduced body cameras for workers at local household recycling centres. The local authority stressed the importance of staff safety after workers were subjected to ‘aggressive behaviour and abuse’ from members of the public.

The Council’s decision follows a recent trend of recycling centre employees wearing body cameras. The last ten years have seen a number of localities introducing them as security measures, including North London, Oxfordshire, Bristol, Slough, and Worcestershire.

Councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley South East, commented to the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It doesn’t happen a lot but it does on occasion and I’ve heard the workers saying that some people don’t accept the rules of what you can and cannot dump.

“People unfortunately do seem to lose the plot at times and they take it out on the people in front of them.

“The workers are just doing their job and they do a damn good job in all sorts of weather. This step is a necessity. I’d rather we didn’t need it but if we need it, we need it.

“We can’t have workers being abused, they’re doing their job. People shouldn’t be abusing the workforce.”

Renfrewshire Council are set to release a service update report after the decision was discussed with site staff and trade union representatives.

The report stated: “The vast majority of people who access our household recycling centres for disposal of their waste and recycling follow the site rules and if they are unsure of anything will ask our site staff for assistance.

“Unfortunately, on a small number of occasions our site staff have experienced aggressive behaviour and abuse from site users, and this is not acceptable.

“The safety of our staff is of the utmost importance to us, and this is reflected in the council’s policy on violence and aggression at work.

“Following discussions with site staff and trade union representatives the waste service will introduce body-worn cameras for our recycling centre staff.”

Camera usage will be made known to site users via signage and an update on the council’s website. Renfrewshire Council hopes that the cameras will act as a deterrent to aggressive behaviour, and capture evidence if it does occur.