 |
MetroCentre
MetroCentre’s crime team has been acknowledged as one of the safest places in Britain to shop. The Safer Business Award, which is the national standard for business crime reduction partnerships was awarded by Action Against Business Crime.
The award was presented to the security team at a presentation recently in recognition of the management and operation of their crime reduction partnership which includes Northumbria Police, Europa Support Services Control Room, MetroCentre’s Retail Crime Unit and mall officers, working together for the security of shoppers and staff alike.
Intensive training for staff includes diversity and forensic awareness, surveillance, first-aid and defibrillator use, health and safety and customer service. The plain clothes Retail Crime Unit works with police and retailers, providing crime prevention training and has achieved a 50% reduction in retail crime while maintaining a 95% detection rate. In 2007 they were involved in 383 arrests, 135 civil recovery claims and recovered £52,373 in stolen property.
The Centre has achieved a month on month reduction in all categories of crime for the past 15 months and works closely with the North East Retail Crime Partnership sharing criminal intelligence with retailers. MetroCentre’s Police Inspector Paul Bentley commented: ‘There’s no doubt that our partnership with MetroCentre security has resulted in huge reductions in crime in all areas. Partnerships like this are the way forward for shopping centres and these awards is a tremendous achievement for all.’ Terry Atkinson, Services Manager (Security) said: ‘I’m delighted to have received these awards on behalf of all the people who have worked hard to make this partnership work.
MetroCentre is already a safe and secure environment in which to shop, however, one crime is one too many and our aim is to reduce it even further. We will continue to make MetroCentre secure for everyone who visits. For the team to be acknowledged as ‘the best’ in this field by such experts is about as good as it gets.’ David Shapiro, WH Smith Manager (and chairman of MetroCentre’s Tenants’ Association) comments: ‘Security is excellent, creating a safe environment and favourable trading conditions. Many retailers have reported best-in-class stock losses.’
30 July 2010