Primark reveals new anti-shoplifting techniques as excessive avenue fights bac | UK | News | EUROtoday

Primark has unveiled new anti-shoplifting techniques to guard their shops from offenders as they put together for the Christmas buying interval.

Shoplifting has been on the rise this yr, skyrocketing by 20% within the yr to March 2025. The festive interval particularly is fraught with theft of present objects, and infrequently places retail staff on the frontline of crime, abuse and violence.

But the UK’s excessive streets have had sufficient. With the assistance of Safer Business Network, some London retailers are combating again.

Safer Business Network helps Primark by utilizing new expertise to trace, deter and catch criminals earlier than offending escalates. The organisation unites police, retailers, charities and native authorities to share intelligence and catch perpetrators.

Through its partnership with Shopsafe, its Alert data-sharing platform allows retailers to report incidents in actual time – from thefts to suspicious behaviour – and obtain on the spot alerts to assist them put together themselves towards serial thieves.

Primark is granted entry to key offender profiles, permitting them to recognise prolific shoplifters. The intelligence cycle additionally lets groups anticipate seasonal offending patterns.

Sarah King, Primark’s safety supervisor for UK and Ireland, mentioned: “Post-Covid, behaviour has shifted. People are angrier now, and the retail worker often takes the brunt of it. It’s not always shoplifting either, it can be conversations about stock availability, fitting room checks, refunds.

“People received’t keep in jobs the place they’re handled this fashion, and that impacts the entire excessive avenue.

Adam Ratcliffe, Operations Director at Safer Business Network, mentioned: “Our strength lies in connecting businesses, the police and local authorities through a secure and compliant platform. That means we’re not just reacting; we’re staying one step ahead.”

Safer Business Network now operates in additional than 50 city centres throughout London. Many companies have reportedly seen reductions in delinquent behaviour and shoplifting.

Superintendent Lisa Maslen of the City of London Police known as Safer Business Network a “first class model” that “gives retailers confidence in policing and reporting incidents.”

She added: “Retail crime has been escalating beyond measures and over the last few years there has been an increase of violent shoplifting on high streets. For a lot of retail workers, being targeted day after day is really traumatising.

“But if our shops go, we lose the backbone of our community, and it damages the whole look and feel of our high streets and makes them feel more unsafe.”