Ensuring a high level of retail security; the safety and security of tenants and businesses, is paramount. Recent statistics from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) underscore the pressing need for robust safety measures within the retail sector.
According to the BRC, daily incidents against shop workers surged by 50% to a staggering 1,300 in 2023. These incidents encompass a range of threats, including sexual harassment, racial abuse, physical assault, and verbal threats.
A recent Sunday Times article “Tackling shoplifting could hit customers in the pocket” discusses the significant rise in shoplifting incidents in the UK, with over 430,000 offences recorded in 2023—a 37% increase from the previous year.
This surge adversely affects employee well-being and business profitability, leading to higher prices for consumers. The government proposes changes in the Crime and Policing Bill, including making assaults on retail workers a standalone offence and ensuring police investigate thefts under £200.
However, implementing enhanced security measures poses financial challenges for retailers, especially smaller businesses, potentially resulting in increased costs for consumers unless further government support is provided.
To address these concerning trends, businesses have ramped up their investment into security measures. Expenditure on security measures, such as CCTV, body cameras, and increased security personnel, soared to £1.2 billion in 2023, marking a significant escalation from £722 million in the previous year. Despite these investments, the cost of theft to retail businesses has also surged, escalating from £953 million to £1.8 billion, resulting in a staggering total cost of crime amounting to £3.3 billion for retailers.
Whilst technology won’t stop criminal activity, anti-social behaviour or critical situations from occurring altogether, it can help to minimise the impact and improve responses. Taking steps to ensure a proactive approach to security can save valuable time, ensure proper resource allocation, and help to safe-guard tenants and businesses alike.
At Kinexio we focus on streamlining communications and improving operational efficiency – when this is applied to security, these aspects can allow for preparedness, and swift execution of any security plans. By having faster reactions during incident response and situation management, they can be dealt with and their impact minimised. With clear communications communities can take a see something, say something approach, empowering them to act instead of react.
New figures from the retail trade body found that incidents against staff were up by 50% in the year to September 2023, up from 870 incidents a day the year before. A crisis or security incident can evolve at speed, so effective planning is paramount.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC said that “despite retailers investing huge sums in crime prevention, violence and abuse against retail workers is climbing.” No one should have to go to work fearing for their safety. This is a crisis that demands action now.” By facilitating communication and collaboration, Kinexio encourages stakeholders to actively contribute to the collective security effort, fostering a sense of community and solidarity.
The escalating incidence of security threats within the retail sector underscores the critical importance of robust safety measures. But these measures don’t need to be complex, they need to be affordable and effective.
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FAQ
Effective security measures in retail environments include implementing access control systems to manage entry, installing surveillance cameras for real-time monitoring, employing trained security personnel, and establishing clear communication channels for incident reporting. These strategies help deter criminal activities, ensure prompt responses to emergencies, and create a safe atmosphere for tenants and customers.
Kinexio enhances security and tenant safety by providing real-time communication tools, instant alerts, and efficient incident management features. Its platform allows security teams to coordinate effectively, respond swiftly to emergencies, and keep tenants informed about safety protocols, thereby fostering a secure retail environment.
