Poundland has rolled out new technology and undercover operatives in a bid to crack down on shoplifting and abuse of its staff. The discount chain has launched an initiave called ‘Against Retail Crime’ with anti-theft technology to deter shoplifting and communication headsets to allow staff to communicate quickly – as well as undercover agents.
It is also giving its security teams the order to detain suspected offenders in stores, and ensuring local police pursue prosecution for every incident of retail crime. The retailer is working in collaboration with local enforcement agencies and police forces, including support from undercover officers and sharing CCTV to aid prosecution.
It is employing more undercover guards in its stores and intends to send a clear message to thieves targeting its stores – they will be caught, they will be reported and they will be prosecuted. The tougher line is already being taken in partnership with local police forces.
Before Christmas a prolific shoplifter who targeted Poundland as well as other retailers in Gloucestershire was charged with trespassing and burglary rather than any lesser charges and received an 18-month custodial sentence. The retailer is also now rolling out body cameras to scores of stores with the most significant crime issues, following a successful trial across its estate.
The cameras, which provide a visual deterrent for offenders as well as recording incidents, have driven an 11 per cent decrease in violence against its colleagues, alongside a marked reduction in shoplifting and theft. Already both through these body cams and those supplied to its security guards, means that over 300 stores have this technology available.
The British Retail Consortium reported in its latest Crime Survey that UK shop workers now face 1,300 incidents of violence and abuse every day, up 50 per cent on the previous year. Poundland says it has been a particular target of theft and abuse.
Poundland’s head of loss prevention Christina Jesty said: “The rate of store theft and colleague abuse has accelerated significantly across our stores in the last 18 months, and this has been very challenging for our people. Whether it’s store theft undermining all our colleagues’ hard work, or incidents of violence and abuse making our colleagues feel unsafe at work, something must change.
“At Poundland we pride ourselves on being a value-led high street retailer, where protecting our colleagues goes hand in hand with protecting our prices. That is why we’re saying enough is enough and beginning a campaign to support our front-line teams and crack down on retail crime across our stores.”