Staff working in recycling centres in Perth and Kinross will not be kitted out with body cameras.
Perth and Kinross Council has confirmed they will not be following the example of local authorities in Angus and Fife who have issued the cameras in a bid to mitigate the risk of violence.
However, council officials have said they have not ruled out introducing the body worn video technology in the future if measures are ever needed to improve staff safety.
Angus Council had recently announced it will be supplying skip workers with body cameras as it fears some employees could be subject to aggression from residents due to new rules at recycling centres in the area.
The local authority had said its recycling staff had suffered verbal abuse and, with the likelihood of reduced opening hours and other measures which will limit the amount if rubbish which can be disposed of in the pipeline, it was decided to introduce the body-worn cameras.
Council chiefs in Angus fear shorter opening hours will result in increased congestion and more competition with residents vying to use available skips at the recycling sites.
Fife Council announced last week it will introduce body cameras for the same security reasons.
Traffic patrollers in Perth are fitted with body cams to deter anti-social behaviour from motorists but a spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said there are currently no plans to extend this to skip staff.
“We do not currently have body cameras for recycling centre staff,” she said.
“However, we regularly review the situation to consider any measures which might improve staff safety, and enhance the customer service experience of users at our recycling centres.
“The situation is regularly reviewed, and as with everything if there’s a measure which could help improve safety or customer service – whether that’s suggested by a specific incident or just feedback from other areas – then it would be considered at the time.”
