London South East prides itself on its community spirit, and in order to keep the chat section problem free, we ask all members to follow these simple rules. In these rules, we refer to ourselves as "we", "us", "our". The user of the website is referred to as "you" and "your".
By posting on our share chat boards you are agreeing to the following:
The IP address of all posts is recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. As a user you agree to any information you have entered being stored in a database. You agree that we have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic or board at any time should we see fit. You agree that we have the right to remove any post without notice. You agree that we have the right to suspend your account without notice.
Please note some users may not behave properly and may post content that is misleading, untrue or offensive.
It is not possible for us to fully monitor all content all of the time but where we have actually received notice of any content that is potentially misleading, untrue, offensive, unlawful, infringes third party rights or is potentially in breach of these terms and conditions, then we will review such content, decide whether to remove it from this website and act accordingly.
Premium Members are members that have a premium subscription with London South East. You can subscribe here.
London South East does not endorse such members, and posts should not be construed as advice and represent the opinions of the authors, not those of London South East Ltd, or its affiliates.
"Safetell – Securing Businesses in Uncertain Times
DECEMBER 1, 2022"
https://newmarksecurity.com/company-insights/
"Safetell – Securing Businesses in Uncertain Times
Retail crime is on the rise. We look at what is fuelling this increase, and the investments being made to protect against it.
A perfect storm of factors has combined in recent years to leave retailers more vulnerable than ever. The lasting impacts of the pandemic and rising levels of poverty and addiction are being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, leaving millions of people across the UK feeling the pinch.
In August, more than 100 retailers came together to call on police to take action on retail crime and combat rising levels of abuse, violence, and antisocial behaviour suffered by retail staff. The letter from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) expressed concern about the sharp spike in crime and the effect on its workforce. It also noted the upward pressure retail crime is having on prices.
Retail crime has been trending upward for some time; shoplifting incidents increased by 18%, according to the ONS, in part fuelled by rocketing inflation that has seen the price of essentials such as bread, pasta, baby formula, milk, and razors increase significantly. With the highest inflation in a generation showing little sign of stagnating, the trend is expected to continue.
That uplift in crime is expected to drive spending on physical security solutions such as security screens, safety doors, and shields. Retail makes up a substantial part of the UK’s physical security market, which the UK government valued in 2019 at $5.7 billion.
Worldwide, the numbers get even bigger, with a recent MarketsandMarkets report predicting the global physical security market is expected to grow from $102.7 billion in 2021 to $140 billion by 2026, driven by the impact of COVID-19. A separate report from Grand View Research says the global physical security market will top $200 billion by 2030 as businesses look to secure their assets and cybersecurity investments. ..."
https://newmarksecurity.com/company-insights/safetell-securing-businesses-in-uncertain-times/
"Safetell – Securing Businesses in Uncertain Times
... Convenience stores at risk
Crime is being felt across all levels of retail, but some are feeling the pain more than others. Convenience stores can often suffer disproportionate levels of crime as they don’t have the levels of security of the larger stores, often run skeleton staff, and have predictable periods where footfall is low. And, unlike larger retailers, many convenience store owners cannot afford to attach security tags to commonly stolen items.
Reacting to the ONS results in July, James Lowman, Chief Executive of the Association of Community Shops (ACS), said: “Shop theft continues to be a massive issue for convenience retailers, and is mostly driven by organised groups stealing to sell elsewhere and those who are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Retailers have told us that they do not see any evidence of the cost of the living crisis driving ordinary people to steal from stores, it is still the same groups looking to cash in at the expense of hard-working business owners.”
“For both groups, higher value goods are being targeted, they’re more likely to try to snatch cash from tills, are becoming more brazen in taking cases of products off shelves and walking out, or even grabbing high-value goods from gantries or behind the counter. This combination of desperation and brazen confidence they feel makes it more likely that incidents will escalate into violence if they’re challenged by a shop colleague.”
This has unfortunately proven to be the case, according to ACS figures, which reveal more than 35,000 incidents of violence in the UK convenience sector were carried out over the last 12 months. More than 16,700 of those incidents involved a weapon, with 9% of all incidents resulting in injury.
Staff at risk
The rising number of incidents against retail staff is one of the least welcome trends of recent years and, again, those working at convenience stores find themselves at real risk. Violent attacks against convenience store workers and other retail staff have increased more than six-fold in the last five years, equal to 100 violent attacks every single day in the UK. Some 89% of those working alone – as is often the case in convenience stores – reported receiving abuse.
This level of crime is having a profoundly negative impact on staff. A BRC study found that 100% of respondents report an increase in verbal abuse during the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition, 63% of workers dealing with customers said they often felt unsafe due to dealing with aggressive shoppers, with half of the respondents having to take time off after experiencing an abusive incident.
Small retail owners are also reporting millions of pounds in physical damage that is being caused by crime. Building exteriors, equipment, and stock are all routinely damaged, and owners often have to close shop while repairs are being carried out, leading to a loss of vital revenues. ..."
"Safetell – Securing Businesses in Uncertain Times
... Boosting shop security
Practically all stores have some level of security provision. CCTV is commonly used, but is often impractical for several reasons, including poor picture quality, unsuitable filming angles, and the penitential for cloud-based security systems to be hacked.
That’s not to say CCTV isn’t useful; it certainly is and should be utilised as a part of an effective security ecosystem. Training staff to use security equipment and to avoid confrontation is also of paramount importance. But increasingly, convenience store owners should be thinking about how they can be more proactive, making their stores as unattractive as possible to criminals, and increasingly making them safe spaces for employees.
According to the ACS Crime Report 2022, £10 million was invested in screens alone over the last 12 months by convenience stores, amongst the £246 million invested in crime prevention across the convenience sector over the course of the year. The overall figure equates to an average convenience store spend of £5,239 on crime prevention. Cash handling and storage, and perspex screen were amongst the top features that stores invested in over the 12 months.
Safetell provides a range of security services that can deter crime and boost staff well-being in convenience stores. Our products include physical security items like security doors, screens and counters, and walling and partitioning products. These solutions not only protect staff from violence but physically divide high-value stock from would-be criminals, as well as making it far more challenging to steal cash.
With more than 30 years of experience in the security space, our experts understand the best products for retail environments and are trusted by retail operators and owners, and what types of security solutions are best suited for the convenience sector."
https://newmarksecurity.com/company-insights/safetell-securing-businesses-in-uncertain-times/
It's sad to read about this explosion in retail crime, which is obviously a huge concern for the sector.
"August 11, 2022
RETAIL LEADERS CALL ON POLICE TO PRIORITISE RETAIL CRIME
... The letter notes that retailers have set out the steps they are taking to protect retail workers, having spent £715 million on crime prevention in 2020/21
... During the pandemic, retail workers were subjected to a huge rise in violence and abuse, with incidents almost tripling from 455 per day in 2019/20 to 1,300 in 2020/21, the BRC survey reports. ..."
https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/retail-leaders-call-on-police-to-prioritise-retail-crime/
But as one would expect, this is helping NWT to generate 'cash from chaos', not only from the convenience store sector, but from supermarket chains etc. as well:-
27th Jan 2022 7:00 am RNS Half-year Report
" ... Safetell revenue has been another positive with sales revenue 12% higher than the corresponding period last year at GBP2,568,000. The Safetell management team continues to transform the business and the last six months has seen the introduction of new product lines, new strategic partnerships struck, and new clients onboarded. Our traditional work of installing and maintaining rising screens has continued to be impacted by the reduction in the number of bank and post offices across the country but we have now further diversified our product offering by bringing auto door and entrance control into our product portfolio.
Our project revenue has shown 26% year on year growth at GBP1,540,000. In a short space of time, we have forged strong experience in the design and installation of security screens in the retail sector and have worked with most of the large supermarket chains in the year to date. We have also completed phase 1 of a large project with a major police force.
We have installed our first entrance control product during the period and have continued to grow our maintenance contract with a large petrol retailer by an additional 100 sites. We have also negotiated a new rising screen maintenance contract with a large UK bank which commenced in November 2021. Our autodoor maintenance contract with a large University has also increased, with additional sites now onboarded. We continue to build on existing relationships in this sector as well as targeting specific projects with new partners.
The company's website has been refreshed in the period and additional features added. There is increased technical information, easier product offering navigation and information along with making it mobile optimised. This will become a larger part of the sales ****nal over time as more customer interactive features are intended. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/half-year-report-xkas3fz5xzbt7ae.html
And with an increased emphasis on Security as a Service (SaaS):-
24th May 2022 7:00 am RNS Year-end trading update
" ... Physical Security Solutions division - Safetell
• Nick Shannon joined in February from G4S Secured Solutions to head up the division. He will lead the strategic focus to build the services side of the business with the aim of increasing the proportion of recurring revenues.
• We have successfully launched new products, expanded our client base, and formed new partnerships. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/year-end-trading-update-wosluswy9hce1m9.html
"Summary of the ACS Crime Report
09 August, 2023
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have recently released the results of their annual crime survey. The survey, which was conducted between 13th February and 31st March 2023, examines the incidents and cost of crime experienced by convenience retailers over the past 12 months. Here’s what they found:
The Cost of Crime Is Increasing
The vast majority of retailers surveyed (79%) say they believe the cost of living crisis has led to an increase in theft. More than 1.1 million incidents of shop theft were reported in the past year. Crime against convenience stores costs the industry more than £125 million, or £2,574 per store. Consumers are effectively paying a crime tax of at least 6p per transaction.
This figure doesn’t reflect the additional investment convenience retailers have made in crime prevention in 2022. More than £ 228 million has been spent on safety measures in the last year, or £4,698 per store.
Crime not only takes a toll on businesses financially; it can have a negative impact on their staff as well. As Jenny Alleyne, Co-op, Head of Operational Risk & Compliance, says in the report, “The increase in prolific and persistent offenders across retail is having a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of our colleagues as they strive to run brilliant stores in local communities. The fatigue from this persistent pressure from thieves leaves colleagues frustrated, helpless and feeling tense in their working environment.”
Violence and Verbal Abuse
According to the report, there were more than 41,000 incidents of violence reported in the sector, including more than 8,800 incidents of robbery. 13% of these incidents resulted in injury. These incidents are often triggered by staff encountering shop thieves, attempting to enforce age-restricted sales policies or a refusal to serve intoxicated customers. 25% of retail workers believe that incidents of violence have increased in the past 12 months. Knives were present in 44% of all violent incidents, 55% other weapons (axes, syringes, hammers) were present, and firearms were present in 1% of all instances.
Incidents of anti-social behaviour are another area of concern. 87% of workers have experienced verbal abuse in the past year, and 759,000 incidents of verbal abuse were recorded in 2022. More than a third (34%) of these incidents were hate-motivated.
The report states while violent incidents have decreased since the pandemic, “levels of violence remain unacceptably high”.
Customers have been impacted negatively as well as 36% of customers have witnessed incidents of violence or abuse towards staff. More than a third of customers have stated they feel more anxious when they shop. ..."
http://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/summary-of-the-acs-crime-report/
"Summary of the ACS Crime Report
09 August, 2023
... Burglary and Organised Crime
While a significant number of incidents are opportunistic in nature, 65% of retailers believe that incidents involving organised crime groups have increased in the past year as well. There have been more incidents of distraction theft (59%), gangs targeting local sites (36%), coordinated shop theft (27%), distribution fraud (14%) and theft from delivery vehicles as well (14%).
At the same time, not all retailers report crime. Only 16% of all retail crime is reported to the police due to the:
• a perceived lack of interest from the police,
• a lack of confidence in the willingness or ability of the police to follow up their investigation, and
• the time and effort it takes to file and process reports, as stated by participants.
Crime Prevention
Many retailers are taking a proactive stance to protect their business. As the report states, “Every pound invested by a business in preventing crime increases the feelings of safety and positivity among local citizens about their communities.” ...
Safetell has decades of experience in the convenience retail sector and is a leading provider of state-of-the-art security solutions tailored for various sectors. ...
Speak to an expert today
If you believe that your store could benefit from security screens, partitioning, or doors, reach out to Safetell without delay. Our expertise in the industry enables us to provide top-notch solutions that meet your needs and deliver the protection you need. Let Safetell help you safeguard your business and assets effectively."
http://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/summary-of-the-acs-crime-report/
It's sad to read that the upsurge in retail crime is continuing.
But great that NWT is able to assist so robustly:-
31st Jan 2023 7:00 am RNS Half-year Report
" ... We have also seen significant demand for our safety screens in the retail sector given the current economic climate and the need to protect their staff. We are pleased with the progress made so far as we delivered two large retail projects in H1 FY23, with another one secured for H2. ..."
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/NWT/half-year-report-22phs4l5im1fv8m.html
"Retail Crime in the UK – and How To Address It
01 February, 2024
Shop theft has reached record highs in the retail sector, with nearly half of retailers claiming that theft has increased dramatically in the past year. According to reports, organised crime syndicates target retailers, shoplifting or stealing high-value goods to resell elsewhere. This harrowing trend puts staff and customers at risk.
In 2023, Tesco announced that they would roll out hundreds of safety screens in Express stores and petrol station kiosks across the UK as a response to increasing incidents of crime against retailers, particularly a concerning increase in assaults against staff. These screens enclose the side of the till where staff are most vulnerable and stand above head height, protecting staff against assault. Designed to prevent the theft of high-value items, such as alcohol, beauty products, cigarettes, and other items often kept behind counters, it’s become a valuable deterrent against crime. ...
Cost-effective solutions like Safetell’s SafeShield UL Security Glazing safeguard staff and counter areas against physical attacks and attempts to vault over the counterwork to snatch high-value items kept behind the counter. This solution is specifically tailored for operations involving the secure transaction of goods or objects, like express retail environments or petrol forecourts. ..."
https://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/retail-crime-in-the-uk-and-how-to-address-it/
"Combatting Criminal Activity in Petrol Stations
01 February, 2024
There is an alarming increase in theft and crime in the retail sector. According to the ACS Voice of Local Shops survey, nearly two-thirds of retailers have experienced theft in their stores. More than a third say theft has increased. While all retailers are at risk, petrol forecourts are especially vulnerable.
Operating at late hours, often handling large amounts of cash, and a lack of staffing and security means that these retailers are prime targets for both opportunistic and organised criminals. ...
The best defence against these crimes is to install safety screens. Tesco and other stores have already committed to the installation of safety screens in more than 250 Express locations and petrol forecourts in a bid to improve the safety and well-being of their employees. ...
Safetell facilitates seamless operations without compromising safety with products that include the CashFast and Night Pay Hatch Drawers. ...
Safetell is Safety Pass Alliance (SPA) accredited, which means they are accredited to install products in forecourts across the UK. ..."
https://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/combating-criminal-activity-in-petrol-stations/
"Insights
Keep up to date on our product news, business announcements and industry-related content on how to effectively and efficiently secure and maintain your organisation."
https://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/
"Strengthening Retail Security: Safetell Sub-Partners with Retail’s Best
14 February, 2024
Safetell, a leader in physical security solutions for retailers and forecourt operators, is pleased to announce its sub-partnership with Retail’s Best, a premier platform connecting retailers with innovative solutions and industry expertise.
Safetell’s decision to sub-partner with Retail’s Best demonstrates its commitment to addressing the evolving challenges of retail security, particularly within the petrol forecourt sector. Leveraging Retail’s Best’s extensive network and resources, Safetell aims to provide tailored security solutions that meet the unique needs of retailers and forecourt operators.
Challenges in the Convenience Sector:
The convenience sector in the UK has faced significant challenges related to crime, particularly physical attacks on retailers and store employees. According to a report by the Association of Convenience Stores, incidents of violence and aggression against convenience store workers have reached alarming levels, with over 50,000 incidents reported in the past year alone.
Addressing Physical Attacks:
Safetell recognises the urgency of addressing physical attacks in the convenience and petrol forecourt sector and is committed to providing effective security solutions to mitigate these risks. Through its partnership with Retail’s Best, Safetell aims to empower retailers and forecourt operators with robust security measures to deter and prevent physical attacks on their premises.
Jenny Jones, Retail Business Development Manager at Safetell, stated: “Our sub-partnership with Retail’s Best aligns seamlessly with our mission to enhance retail security. Together, we are committed to safeguarding businesses and protecting their assets, especially in light of the increasing prevalence of physical attacks in the convenience sector.”
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive security solutions for retailers and petrol forecourt operators, Safetell offers a range of products designed to complement their unique needs within stores.
Safetell’s Solutions
In response to the rising challenges of physical attacks, many retailers are turning to innovative solutions to protect their staff and assets. One such solution is SafeShield UL Security Screens, engineered to withstand physical attacks while ensuring seamless operations at checkout counters. These screens provide a vital layer of protection for retailers and forecourt operators, enhancing both security and colleague confidence.
Additionally, Safetell’s Night Pay Hatch Drawer and CashFast Drawer offer secure and efficient transaction handling ...
As a trusted sub-partner of Retail’s Best, Safetell is committed to providing tailored security solutions ..."
https://www.safetell.co.uk/insights/strengthening-retail-security-safetell-sub-partners-with-retails-best/
A very recent addition to NWT's website, about the 2024 BRC (British Retail Consortium) crime survey:-
"Insights
Protecting against retail crime during a “crisis”
... The UK is in the midst of a retail crime crisis that “demands action”, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said. ...
Incidents of customer theft more than doubled during the reporting period, from eight million to 16.7 million. In monetary terms, that theft costs retailers £1.8 billion – the highest figures ever recorded, up from £950 million. ...
Retailers are investing heavily to protect their staff and their stock. Figures show that crime prevention spending totalled £1.2 billion over the 12 months, up from £720 million, with retailers installing measures such as security doors, perspex screens to protect staff, and high-quality CCTV systems.
In total, the cost of retail crime and spending on crime prevention has risen to £3.3 billion, up from £1.8 billion.
Unfortunately, there is little optimism that these issues will soon improve. ...
The BRC has previously called on the government to offer tax relief on crime prevention investments, or to introduce funding for retailers, and said these statistics clearly show the need for meaningful law enforcement.
A scheme is in place in South-West England for independent retailers to access up to £2,000 to cover the cost of security upgrades, but the industry body would like to see a nationwide initiative rolled out. ..."
http://newmarksecurity.com/insights/protecting-against-retail-crime-during-a-crisis/
It's hardly surprising that demand for Safetell's retail security solutions is soaring, and there's a compelling case for tax breaks and subsidies for such investments, which could boost demand even more.
Safetell is an absolute expert in this area, and won't leave people hanging around:-
"Retail Sector
The retail sector, as we all know, is an industry focused on customer service, convenience and accessibility. This is reflected in the range of bespoke security solutions that Safetell has developed to keep customers and employees safe while still providing the best possible customer service experience.
Our specialist range includes screens and counters, retail banking solutions, security doors and door enhancements, transfer units, cash & asset protection, and service and maintenance."
http://www.safetell.co.uk/sectors-solutions/
"Watch: Woman hoisted into the air by shop shutters"
Wales · 3 days ago
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-68480197