Paddington Central is a large estate that consists of late bars and restaurants. They are committed to the safety and well-being of their employees and all who visit the complex.
The Challenge
Rail staff have encountered several instances of aggression, public disorder and anti-social behaviour whilst performing their day-to-day roles.
This is coupled with having to challenge instances of unauthorised parking. When trying to move people on, they would often be challenged with aggressive behaviour towards their security staff.
To improve worker safety and reduce violence, Network Rail decided to equip their public-facing teams with body cameras, given their ability to reduce conflict and confrontation.
The Solution
WCCTV were selected as the preferred supplier of body-worn cameras for Network Rail following a proof of concept trial and a consultation and acceptance testing period.
The station's Security Manager was particularly impressed with how easy the cameras were to operate and their immediate impact on reducing violence toward the team.
Uniquely, WCCTV body worn cameras feature a front-facing screen, which allows a subject to see they are being recorded. This has a proven behavioural change impact, which helps to de-escalate potentially hostile situations.
Alongside the cameras, WCCTV provided the station staff with Evidence Management Software, allowing authorised personnel to quickly review and share the videos captured on the cameras when required.
The Result
Having the body cameras has delivered immediate and measurable improvements in personal safety for station staff.
Paddington Central currently use the WCCTV Body Worn Cameras for two staffed positions. The first one is for the Gatehouse entry point; this is the main point for all deliveries and contractors arriving by vehicle. The second one for the entry barrier onto the estate; this is a customer-focused area and can be challenging for the team.
The WCCTV Body Worn Cameras are turned on when the security guards are required to refuse someone entry. The remaining cameras are being used for patrols of the facility, and when the team come across an incident or an issue that needs to be reported, the camera is used to record.
The Quote
"The cameras reassure the team of any complaints against them; having a good body camera on show is a good deterrent and an excellent witness."
"Having a professional camera on show helps the Security officer's confidence."
"They look and feel robust, and having the data transferred by simply putting it into the hub is a convenient solution for a busy Security control room."
Security Manager, Paddington Central
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