Safer Business Action Week

Safer Business Action Week, running from the 14^th to 20^th of October, is coordinated by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) to raise awareness of business crime in areas across the UK.

The NBCC work with police, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs), Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), private industry and Society’s like ours to make UK businesses and communities safer.

Superintendent Patrick Holdaway of the National Business Crime Centre, said: “The week of action is an opportunity to bring police and partners together to
tackle the key issues of business crime in their communities. Each police
force taking part will be holding various crime prevention activities and
initiatives to increase engagement with local businesses and retail outlets and
tackle some of the most prolific offenders.”

It’s no secret that we at Central Co-op, alongside many UK retailers, are observing a significant surge in retail crime. The data from our Loss Prevention Team paints a stark picture: 21,000 incidents in our stores this year alone, primarily driven by a rise in theft across our retail stores. These figures not only represent numbers, but also the safety and security of our colleagues, Members and customers. Safeguarding the well-being of those in our stores and ensuring our colleagues return home safe each day remains the utmost priority of all of us at Central Co-op.

The King’s Speech in July confirmed that the assault of a shopworker will now be a standalone offence as part of the new Crime and Policing Bill - a significant step forward, and one that Central Co-op has been campaigning for alongside other retailers for many years. However, our work is far from over.

Amidst these challenges, we’ve taken a proactive stance, implementing a multifaceted approach aimed at protecting our people and assets. We actively collaborate with other retailers and industry bodies like NBCC to share best practices, insights and intelligence on emerging threats and trends in retail crime. Through forums, working groups and information-sharing platforms, we leverage the collective knowledge and experience of the retail community to develop proactive strategies and countermeasures.

We have made significant investments in safety initiatives and equipment across our stores. From the deployment of body-worn cameras to the implementation of innovative technologies like Watch Me Now systems, we're constantly looking to evolve and stay ahead of emerging threats. We’ve increased investment in store detective hours and guarding to bolster frontline defences, and the introduction of campaigns like “Shopkind” to foster a culture of vigilance amongst our colleagues and customers.

In addition to our operational initiatives, we also actively engage with local Members of Parliament (MPs) to advocate for enhanced measures to combat retail crime. Over the last two years, we have sent letters to the Home Secretary and local MPs following each and every colleague assault and have conducted 31 MP visits to our local community stores this year expressing our concerns for colleague safety and urging greater support from local authorities. Following the election, we wrote to the new Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and all newly elected and re-elected MPs with seats in our trading area, already witnessing a positive response with a number of MPs scheduling visits this autumn.

One crucial aspect of our strategy involves forging partnerships with law enforcement agencies. Our collaboration with the West Midlands Police & Crime Commission's "Offender to Rehab" program highlights our commitment to addressing the root causes of crime, particularly focusing on issues of addiction and societal vulnerability. This initiative reflects our belief in tackling crime at its source, fostering rehabilitation and community integration.

Each of these engagements have served as a vital platform for raising awareness and gaining political support for initiatives aimed at enhancing security and protecting our colleagues and customers. Through ongoing dialogue with NBCC, police, BCRPs, BIDs, MPs and other bodies, we aim to drive meaningful change and ensure that the voices of our frontline workers are heard.