Safe Shop is an initiative where we work with retailers and staff to combat crime and promote a safer working environment.
Safe Shop promotes the principles of 'Prevent, Detect and Deter' and provides retailers with practical advice on how to protect their business from crime.
Safe Shop aims to;
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Promote greater awareness in relation to retail related crime.
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Provide retailers with excellent links to their dedicated Neighbourhood Police Teams.
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Reduce store losses.
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Yield excellent opportunities for information sharing with fellow retailers.
Knowing your powers and rights as a retailer and educating your staff can help prevent retail crime and reduce your store losses.
Prevention of entry.
Owner or agent (manager, sales assistant, security staff);
- May refuse any person admission for any reason.
- Your shop is private property.
- No one has a legal right of entry (except law enforcement).
- You may impose conditions of entry (no prams, buggies, etc).
While any person can be refused entry and no reason need be given, the reason must not be one of discrimination (eg. Ethnic, minority, religion).
Removal from premises.
You have a right to remove any person who fails to meet normal standards of behaviour eg:
- Committing an offence.
- Unruly behaviour / drunkenness.
- Threats to staff / causing damage.
- Police may assist if called by staff.
- Police cannot remove on their own initiative. (You must ask the person to leave in the presence of the Police)
It is advisable for agents/employers to have ‘rights to remove’ in writing from the owner.
Power of Arrest.
You have the same power of arrest as any other citizen. The following information may help you to excercise those powers in a lawful manner:
- Say, “I’m arresting you for the theft of two pairs of jeans.” – suspect must be told they are arrested and why.
- If suspect co-operates, take to secure area of the shop.
- Back in the premises ask them to produce any goods not paid for.
- If not produced – do not search – wait for Police.
- Do not leave suspect alone or allow access to toilet.
- Wait for Police, make some notes of the time and comments made.
- Inform Police of the reason for arrest.
Avoid Violence in an Arrest Situation.
- Always try to arrest in twos.
- Always ensure that you can effect an arrest with no harm to yourself or fellow members of staff.
- Always talk quietly, calmly and deliberately to thieves.
- If faced with a violent situation, BACK AWAY, removing yourself as best you can.
- Never follow a thief out on your own – you may be at risk of injury from accomplices.
Effective Reporting
If an offence occurs, it is vital that anyone witnessing the crime has an understanding of the information which makes good evidence and gives us the best possible chance of bringing the offender to justice.
Be prompt and concise in your reporting.
- If the offender has fled the scene - what is their description?
- Age?
- Build?
- Complexion?
- Distinguishing marks – tattoos, piercings?
- Height?
- Hair?
- Clothing?
- Any Vehicles?
- Any Accomplices?
Keeping People Safe
Please download, display and disseminate this information to your staff to help protect your business from crime.
