If your retail premises is plagued by theft, sometimes called retail shrinkage, you are probably looking for the most cost-effective way to reduce instances of theft.
But is this with an updated CCTV system or by hiring top-quality retail security?
Find out once and for all with our guide and see if CCTV alone will reduce retail shrinkagein your business.
How does CCTV stop theft?
Since the introduction of CCTV in the UK in the 1960s, it has become increasingly popular in locations where goods, people, or both need to be protected.
In a retail environment, CCTV allows for:
- Crime prevention
- The detection of offenders
- Crowd control or public order scenarios
- The prevention of personal and property crime
According to a study from the College of Policing’s Crime Reduction Toolkit, the results of CCTV use alone has caused in a decrease in crime:
‘Crime decreased by 13% in places with CCTV, compared to places without it. It also revealed that certain types of crime are affected by the presence of CCTV: drug-related crime decreased by 20%, and vehicle and property crime by 14%.’
But can these statistics be improved with retail security officers?
Do retail security officers help stop theft?
Simply put, yes.
As part of the fight against retail shrinkage, a well-trained, qualified retail security officer can enhance the effects of CCTV on theft, especially when used as part of a full-coverage approach.
Referred to as ‘active monitoring’ by the Police force, combining CCTV use with monitoring by trained retail security staff looking for criminal activity is a common technique for reducing theft.
Allowing CCTV and experienced retail security staff to work hand-in-hand was shown to reduce crime by 15% more than CCTV systems without active monitoring, according to the College of Policing’s Crime Reduction Toolkit.
This is because security staff monitor and proactively manage criminal activity in real-time – effectively stopping it in its tracks. This type of security is effective in all kinds of scenarios, industries, and environments – from banks to art galleries, retail spaces to construction sites.
Create a store security plan with T-Class
Security loss prevention officers from T-Class are all SIA-approved and trained in CCTV monitoring. This allows them to actively monitor CCTV systems, noting shoplifting attempts and reporting these findings to security officers on the shop floor – stopping instances of shoplifting before offenders can leave the store.
This not only stops retail shrinkage but also allows you to be confident that your staff are protected from anti-social behaviour, too.
If you have any questions about T-Class’s retail security services or would like a bespoke retail security service package, reach out today – give us a call on 0203 794 8182 or email us at info@t-class.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
