Retail security specialists from around the UK met with business managers in Manchester at a Reliance Security Services event.
Retail security specialists from around the UK met with business managers in Manchester at a Reliance Security Services event. The seminar heard that in 1999, spending on crime prevention was œ554m, while in 2000 this increased by 13 per cent to œ626 million. Apart from stock shrinkage, a key concern for retailers is violence against staff. The survey reveals an increase in incidents to five per 1000 staff in 2000, as compared with four per 1000 in 1999. Preventing customer theft was the main cause of reported incidents of violence; evidence that shop theft is not a victimless crime.
Violence in stores, the future for product protection, and developments in CCTV and electronic surveillance were among topics at the seminar. Speakers included Andrew Webb of Reliance High-Tech, the British Retail Consortium?s Mike Schuck and Prof Joshua Bamfield of the Centre for Retail Research. Head of Retail at Reliance Security, Carolyn Stokes, said: ?Modern retail security solutions combine state of the art technology with optimum levels of manpower.? Mike Schuck emphasised the need to increase the strength and number of retailers working in partnership in order to be more effective in tackling criminals ? many of whom target a range of shops in one area. He said: ?There is a definite need for more awareness and more investment by retailers in the use of technology in this area. If the technology systems are put in place and used effectively it will help the sector address the issue of loss prevention ? which is one of the biggest challenges retailers face.? See www.reliancesecurity.co.uk.
