Following the recent acid attacks across London, food delivery company Deliveroo is taking safety precautions to protect riders.
Riders from the company were victims included in the attacks in London last month, whilst they were delivering goods by moped or bike.
The company is introducing a new feature on its app that will allow riders to flag any safety concerns as they go about their deliveries. In addition to this, a trial of helmet cameras will also be used by riders.
Once safety concerns have been raised, they will be shared with the company’s HQ and local authorities. The helmet cameras will allow riders to film evidence then pass the information on to the local police.
As the riders for Deliveroo are classed as self-employed, one of the ‘perks’ of the job promoted on the website, they don’t have rights to sick pay, should they take the day off.
However, the delivery firm told Sky News they want to offer its riders greater security, including benefits such as sick pay.
As well as the involvement in the acid attacks, riders in the Hackney area have been targeted with knives to give over their bikes. Workers in Hackney, told the Hackney Gazette: “In the past month physical attacks with knives have started. We’re seeing groups of boys running drivers off the road and taking their mopeds.”
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Following these attacks, the paper reported that some workers had ended up in hospital with knife injuries. As a result, the rider claimed himself and colleagues aren’t comfortable doing the normal shift hours anymore.
Riders told the Hackney Gazette: “People would do it [the job] from 12pm to 12am. Now, 40 out of 50 in the group will not work after 9:30pm. It’s too dangerous.”
A trial of the new helmet equipment is taking place in Hackney, to ensure riders are kept safe.
