All London betting offices should be fitted with internal CCTV – and high-risk sites with covert cameras to capture facial images of offenders. That’s according to the Safebet Alliance, which has brought out a voluntary security standard for bookmakers in the capital.
According to the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), half the betting shop robberies in the UK are in the Metropolitan Police area. The ABB plans to bring out minimum national standards for workplace robbery and violence. <br><br>As the ABB admits, the advice document has arisen because betting shops are seen by robbers as a ‘soft target’. Robbers may be professional, opportunist or unstable (seeking money for drugs). High-risk premises should consider security screens at counters, the document adds; also, if toilets are ‘misused’ (for drug-taking) or hidden in by robbers until closing time, shops should consider locking them. <br><br>Covered in the document for the purposes of risk assessment are lone working, the need for good customer service and an incident log, proper management of security equipment, staff vetting, CCTV and signage, training, police liaison, vigilance at opening and closing time, banking procedures and minimising the amount of cash available to a robber, safes, hold-up alarms, cash office and front doors, and fire exits. <br><br>The document stresses that these standards are only ‘a starting point for a safer and more secure gambling environment’: it concludes: ‘Good security starts with people; cleaners to managers all have a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of your premises. Good clear security policies that all staff understand and comply with are an essential starting point. Implementation of simple security measures including CCTV, Maglocks and time delay systems will only be effective if staff utilise them properly.’ <br><br>As that suggests, there are various groups involved. The shop union Community like others has been campaigning for staff safety – workers being at risk of assault and aggression from drug deals or aggressive customers, besides robberies. The big betting shop chains have security staff, who are already sharing good practice; independent shops may not have dedicated security. Even before a recession, betting shop operators might pointed to difficulty affording security upgrades – and even if kit was installed, managers and staff might become complacent and not follow procedure, such as banking cash as safely as possible (not at routine times, that robbers would get to know, for example). The bet shop industry body the ABB and the Metropolitan Police have established ‘a Strategic Group to look at the approach to betting shop robbery and other crime in the London area’. The ABB says: ‘ The key is constant dialogue between the betting industry and law enforcement with the other organisations that have a stake in this issue. Whilst the primary objective is protecting staff, reducing robbery risk and other criminality makes good business sense.’ The ABB already runs a reward scheme for information about betting shop robbery; and supports Crimestoppers.<br><br>As elsewhere in retail, crime reduction through good customer service is stressed: ‘Building relationships with your existing customers, challenging strangers with a “can I help you?” and running a clean and efficient shop discourages would be offenders.’ Interestingly, the document also talks in terms of health and safety – the risk to staff from a violent robbery. Also touched on is the risk of cash in transit robbery, itself the topic of partnership work between police, the private security industry and banks. <br><br>Welcoming the alliance, Met Police Commander Mark Simmons said: ‘Standards in the industry are variable (even amongst the five largest bookmakers) and when a betting operator or a particular member of staff fails to implement appropriate measures then the whole industry is exposed to greater risk. For example an offender who manages to get away with a few thousand pounds (despite cash minimisation policies) will see that the reward outweighs the risk and will go on to commit further robberies. Each betting operator and each betting shop worker owes it to their counterparts to act responsibly and ensure appropriate standards of security.’ <br><br>You can download the 28-page document from the ABB website.
Elsewhere in retail
This work in the betting shop sector mirrors work against violence against shop staff generally. In March for instance shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, was calling on retail employers to work with local police to crack down on theft from shops.
The union was recommending that shop owners take on board the guidance from the Government, which suggests ways in which local CDRPs (Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships) and neighbourhood police can create partnerships with retail employers to reduce crime.
The guidance gives examples of good practice, including Co-ops in North Wales simply encouraging police to take their tea breaks in the local stores. It aims to overcome the lack of knowledge about CDRPs and neighbourhood policing and to dispel the view that most retail crime isn’t worth reporting because the police aren’t interested.
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said then: “This new guidance supports our Freedom From Fear campaign; aiming to reduce violence against shopworkers. Much violence that occurs in stores is a result of shopworkers challenging people committing theft. If we can cut theft in the first place, the workers will be less at risk.
“Shop theft isn’t victimless. The police realise this and are looking at ways to address the issue. But they need retail employers to work with them, which is why we are urging store managers to look at this guidance and create working partnerships with their local force.”
