Don’t believe the hype

All the evidence points to rising levels of retail crime, although estimates of the growth vary, and it’s likely that if retailers hadn’t been so on the ball that this would have been a much greater problem.

In our opening feature we examine just what the latest retail shrinkage figures show, and which are the areas where retailers need to focus their limited loss prevention resources.

One tactic is that which has been adopted by discount retailer Home Bargains. It has made its crime prevention strategy multichannel, using images of suspected shoplifters captured in its stores in a special section on its website. We ask others in the industry what they think of this strategy, and whether there are any legal issues associated with publishing pictures captured in stores.

Last, but by no means least, Retail Week examines the issue of supporting staff who are affected by crime in stores. We have had some very vocal feedback from our readers at all levels in retail or the horrors of what security and shopfloor staff face when they try to prevent crime in their stores and hold shoplifters to account.

In addition, no one needs reminding of the more serious crimes that have taken place in stores up to and including murders.

We give some great examples of the work retailers do to identify and assist staff who need support after an incident.

The extra focus on minimising shrinkage to protect margins during 2009 has given loss prevention and profit protection new profile within businesses. This is something they should seek to maintain into the new year.