A nationwide study by body-worn camera company, HALOS, has found that two-thirds (68%) of the public believe the primary reason businesses should use body-worn cameras is to protect staff from abuse. The majority (60%) believe the cameras help deter antisocial behaviour in busy public settings like supermarkets or train stations, while a further 68% believe they reduce theft and other criminal activity. In a sign of shifting attitudes, almost a third (31%) also value their role in capturing evidence during disputes.
These figures reflect a cultural reset around public safety – one where surveillance tools, once seen as intrusive, are now viewed as essential. In the UK, the cameras are increasingly understood not as a threat, but as a protective presence – a practical response to growing concerns around frontline aggression.
The impact is behavioural, too. More than half of UK consumers (55%) say body-worn cameras make them feel safer, while 44% admit the presence of one would make them reconsider how they act. And while the technology is becoming more common across public spaces, it isn’t always front of mind. Just over a third of people (38%) say they’ve never noticed a body-worn camera in action – suggesting that for many, the cameras are doing their job quietly, without disrupting the atmosphere. Whilst only 21% say they feel uncomfortable when they do spot one.
Matthew Dawes, Head of Enterprise Solutions at HALOS, said: “A few years ago, the presence of a body-worn camera might have felt unusual or even confrontational. Today, they’re a quiet reassurance to both the wearer and the everyday person. They’re a sign that staff and consumers are protected, and that there’s a line between order and chaos that doesn’t need to be loudly enforced.
“People expect safe, respectful environments as a standard, and the data shows they’re comfortable with technology playing a role in that. Cameras don’t have to be obvious to be effective. They just have to be there when it counts.”
As public expectations evolve, so too is the role of body-worn cameras. Once seen as a reactive measure, they are now part of the everyday toolkit for prevention, reassurance, and accountability, even when they’re hiding in plain sight.
