Shopkeepers given mini body cameras to capture hate crime abusers Shopkeepers who have been subjected to a series of hate crimes are to be given mini body cameras to capture their attackers. Officers are handing out the cameras to shop staff in the north of Edinburgh, and will extend the scheme to other areas if it is successful. The cameras will be attached to the staff's body and are small enough to be easily concealed. Staff will be able to start recording on the cameras with the touch of a button. The scheme has been developed in consultation with security and other shop staff and is designed to complement their CCTV and other security measures. Inspector Mark Rennie said: "We often find that store security guards and shop staff receive racist abuse when they challenge shoplifters or refuse purchases. It's totally unwarranted and unacceptable, and these cameras are intended to provide reassurance to staff who have experienced such an incident, by offering a deterrent and helping to assist police collect evidence to identify offenders. This will increase our opportunities to arrest those responsible, take appropriate action to put them before the courts, and prevent them from being able to use the shop in the future. Although the devices are discreet, they are small enough to be worn on the body to ensure that vulnerable staff have access to the recording facility at all times and in areas of their premises that previously would not have been covered by their own CCTV. The move has been welcomed by the Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council, who aim to eliminate discrimination. Chair Foysol Choudhury said: "We welcome the initiative of Police Scotland of making small body cameras available, which will help safeguard and protect persons vulnerable to hate crimes. We also believe that it would make local business owners and employees confident to conduct their business as well as report instances of hate crime. As a lot of people are not aware of processes about reporting hate crimes, the body cameras will make them confident about garnering evidence of such crimes. We hope that this step will increase rates of reporting of hate crimes.