Tesco has announced it will roll out body worn cameras to over 5,000 delivery drivers across 100 stores by the end of this year as an “extra safety measure.”

According to The Grocer, the investment follows rising levels of threats and violence towards retail delivery drivers in recent years.

The retailer, which delivers 1.45 million online grocery orders each week, said it hoped the cameras would act as a deterrent, following a trial in Hull that significantly reduced serious incidents.

Ashwin Prasad, CEO of Tesco UK said: “Nobody should have to face verbal or physical abuse at work, and the rollout of body worn cameras will help us protect our drivers, deter would-be offenders and reduce the number of serious incidents.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues will always be our first priority and we are making significant investments to make sure we lead the way in tackling retail crime and ensure everyone feels safe whenever they shop with Tesco.”

In September, Tesco announced it had given its UK employees opt-in, free access to the personal safety app Peoplesafe, which can track their journeys and help them to raise the alarm if they don’t feel safe.

Additionally, Tesco says it has made multi-million-pound safety investments, including panic buttons, protective screens, and a state-of-the-art Security Hub in Daventry.