To mark Safer Business Action Week (14-20 October), Nisa has highlighted the proactive measures being taken by independent retailers to address shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, and theft.
Prem Uthayakumaran, a retailer operating several sites in Nottinghamshire, has led efforts to engage with law enforcement. “We’ve engaged the police directly, presenting the issues and putting forward an agreed plan,” he said. “This includes conducting assessments and only reporting incidents that meet a certain threshold.” These actions have led to arrests and greater community awareness, resulting in a notable reduction in crime.
Retailers are also contributing to the community as part of their crime prevention efforts. Benedict Selvaratnam, owner of Freshfields Market in Croydon, is working with local organisations such as food banks and the Salvation Army to address the social issues underlying petty crime. “It’s about more than just preventing crime; we want to be part of the solution,” he added. Benedict also emphasised the value of community watch programmes to keep retailers informed about local crime trends.
Over in Cambridgeshire, Amit Puntambekar, has invested in advanced camera systems at Ash’s Shop in Fenstanton, but still faces challenges. “The scale of retail crime is astonishing,” he said. “My store is losing between £10-20K annually to theft. Even with no blind spots, it’s incredibly challenging to catch offenders.”
Benedict has also enhanced security further by upgrading CCTV systems, installing panic buttons, and training staff to identify suspicious behaviour. “We’ve implemented a customer engagement strategy, where our team maintains a visible presence on the shop floor, not only to offer assistance but also to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere that acts as a deterrent to crime,” he explained.
Prem has made staff training a priority. “Our staff have undergone extensive training on reporting crimes and following up with police officers,” he said.
In addition, he has introduced anti-theft posters in his stores to raise awareness, stating, “We’ve put up awareness posters in our shops, asking customers to help locate shoplifters.”
Nisa managing director Peter Batt said: “It is evident that retail crime is still a huge issue and Safer Business Action Week is an opportunity for retailers to talk collaboratively about what steps they’re taking to reduce it. By engaging with relevant stakeholders, improving store security, and addressing underlying social issues, retailers are making small but important changes to help create safer retail environments for both their staff and customers. We continue to urge the police to ensure independent retailers are not left behind in the race to tackle retail crime.”
