The Rising Importance of Shopping Centre Security
Shocking statistics released this year revealed just how difficult the world of retail has become. In April, the BBC reported on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, which showed over 430,000 shoplifting offences in England and Wales in 2023 – a record high.
But it’s not just shoplifting that makes retailers feel worried. The British Retail Consortium also reported that physical assaults, racial abuse, sexual harassment and threats with weapons jumped by 50% last year.
This makes for eye-watering reading, especially for shopping centres that receive high volumes of customers daily. That’s why this month at Omni Security, we’re going to look into how shopping centre security can help.
The benefits of shopping centre security
Shopping centre security can benefit everyone, from the general public to the staff working in the stores. Here are four crucial ways security will help if you own or operate a shopping centre:
Ensuring staff feel safe
Because the staff in retail stores face the brunt of retail crime, it can put them in frightening positions. Whether it’s verbal or physical abuse, it’s never nice and can shatter a person’s confidence.
But with security on hand to call when there are any incidents – or even to pre-empt an issue, such as known shoplifters – staff can feel more at ease. Backed by a real security presence, they don’t have to fear coming to work.
A physical presence is a good deterrent
Sometimes, simply showing a physical security presence can put off a large percentage of would-be criminals. Shoplifters are less likely to try their luck if they can see manned guards in place. Pair this with CCTV – another deterrent – and you have a robust, hybrid approach that works effectively against any type of crime.
Respond to emergencies quickly
Shopping centre security teams are on hand in an emergency to help raise the alarm or cordon off areas. Whether there has been an accident and shoppers need to be diverted or there is an evacuation, a physical team of security guards can handle these situations. This means retail staff and the general public won’t have to wait for the emergency services to respond.
Create a positive shopping experience
In any retail environment, you want shoppers to feel like they’ve had a positive experience so that they return time and again. A shopping centre provides a variety of services and creates a memorable day out for many people, especially around the Christmas period.
Make sure your shops, restaurants, cafes, car parks and even entertainment spaces are enjoyable to visit by keeping crime and anti-social behaviour at bay with shopping centre security.
Professional security for shopping centres
At Omni Security, we’re an accredited security company offering a full range of services for shopping centres to help you create a pleasant shopping experience and working environment. Operating UK-wide, we can provide the following for retail clients:
Want to learn more about how we help tackle retail and shopping centre crime? Contact us today and we’ll provide a consultative partnership approach to your security needs anywhere in the UK.