Walmart has implemented new guidelines for employees to handle aggressive customers, advising them to record incidents using the "ethics and compliance" app. The initiative comes as retailers struggle with how to manage customers who may have mental health issues or be attempting to steal merchandise. In response to this issue, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Retail Worker Safety Act, which requires merchants with 50 or more employees to install panic buttons by January 2027. These panic buttons will alert law enforcement to immediately respond to a store in distress. The use of body cameras by law enforcement has been cited as an effective deterrent against bad behavior, with some experts noting that the ability to see oneself on camera can prompt individuals to change their actions.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/17/business/walmart-tests-body-cameras-for-store-employees-as-retail-crime-surges/