Smile, You’re on Camera! – Customer Incivility is Rising. Americans Believe Bodycams Can Help.
YouGov poll found broad support for body camera use in retail, public transit, private security and other sectors where frontline workers increasingly face disruptive behavior
JULY 29, 2025 – DALLAS, TX – Customer incivility is rising. Shoppers are snapping at checkout clerks. Public transport riders are on edge as transit crime spikes. Videos of viral outbursts on airplanes are landing on social media daily. And concert goers are ensuring they've located the nearest exit in case of a security incident.
A new study reveals Americans want more eyes on the scene to make them feel safer and to protect the frontline workers who bear the brunt of bad behavior.
A poll of over 2,500 American adults found over 70% are comfortable with, or indifferent about, the growing prevalence of body-worn cameras beyond law enforcement. The research, commissioned by tech firm HALOS, revealed favorable consumer sentiment about the role bodycams play in increasing people's sense of safety when worn by staff in places like stores, on mass transit and at event venues like stadiums. It also found most people believe bodycams help deter disorderly conduct.
"There’s been a lot of conversation about how bodycams impact businesses and employees, but we wanted to understand how the public feels about seeing them in everyday settings,” said Alan Ring, CEO of HALOS. "Our study found the majority don’t mind that bodycams may be capturing their interactions in a store, on a train or at a concert because this era of over-sharing on social media and hyperconnectivity has sort of made that the expectation. It goes to show how bodycams are quickly becoming an accepted part of the public safety toolkit."
Cracking Down on Misconduct
The majority of U.S. respondents (62%) agreed the use of body-worn cameras by frontline staff helps to deter disorderly behavior.
In addition to the U.S. sample, YouGov surveyed over 2,000 adults in the U.K. Of the combined poll, the study found:
- 67% agree the use of body-worn cameras by staff in public settings helps deter disorderly conduct
- Over 50% said the presence of body-worn cameras on staff increases their sense of personal safety
- 44% agree they would think twice about their behavior if they knew employees in a given setting were wearing body-worn cameras
A New Norm in Public Safety
"Body-worn cameras are no longer just a policing tool; they're the new frontline defense in public safety,” said Professor Martin Gill, Professor of Criminology and Director of Perpetuity Research, a security consulting firm. “The search for new and better ways of fighting crime and protecting people is driving innovation, and bodycams are at the forefront. This latest survey by HALOS is most welcome in drawing attention to their potential, when properly managed, to help tackle crime and deter unwanted behavior."
When asked what settings they felt bodycams could most enhance safety and accountability for employees, the top three cited by respondents beyond law enforcement, which ranked first, were:
- 1) Private security (think: security staff in office buildings, stadiums and concert venues and shopping centers)
- Private security is an important use case because of insufficient police staffing due to budget cuts, high turnover and difficulty recruiting. Security guards are replacing police in many high impact environments, making bodycam technology just as warranted in the private sector as it is the public sector.
- 2) Emergency response crews including emergency medical services workers and those responding to natural disasters
- Emergency response teams have begun more broadly adopting bodycams to enhance transparency, improve patient and staff safety and document incidents for training. And with the increasing number of criminal and civil suits against EMS agencies in particular, the technology plays an important role in protecting field operations staff.
- 3) Transport workers, which includes delivery drivers.
- There exists a range of transportation sub-sectors - from delivery fleets to public transit to commercial carriers - that are adopting bodycams for compliance support, training, safety and incident resolution. Transit crime is a top concern in some U.S. cities like New York City and Philadelphia, where violence in busy transit settings has put pressure on government officials and legislators to take action.
"We're only scratching the surface for where and how bodycams can create safer spaces," said Ring. "As the public continues to view them more as a safety tool and less about surveillance, we anticipate they'll become the norm across more sectors, and much like CCTV cameras, people won't even think twice about seeing them."
1 Source: American Police Beat
2 Source: Journal of Emergency Medical Services
3 Source: Associated Press
To learn more about the research and key findings, visit https://halosbodycams.com/infographic-body-worn-camera-survey.
About HALOS Body Cameras
HALOS provides advanced body-worn camera technology and a robust evidence management platform for businesses of all sizes with workers on the frontlines. From retail to private security, transport, hospitality and law enforcement, HALOS helps protect the people, assets, reputations and bottom lines of diverse organizations across multiple countries. By seamlessly integrating advanced body-worn camera technology with an intuitive evidence management platform, HALOS helps organizations safeguard their assets, enhance trust and maintain accountability without compromise. Learn more at www.halobodycams.com.
Methodology
HALOS commissioned global research and analytics firm, YouGov, to conduct an online poll of U.S.- and U.K.-based adults 18+. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
U.S. - Total sample size was 2,636 U.S. adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd - 4th June 2025.
U.K. - Total sample size was 2,268 UK adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5th - 6th June 2025.
The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. and U.K. adults (aged 18+).
Contact
Megan Lampros
One Twelve Communications on behalf of HALOS