Security
When we talk of security we mean the protection and safety of all aspects of the business. For convenience Store retailers these include:
- Premises and fixtures and fittings (e.g. ATMs)
- Stock and cash protection
- Receipts at point of sale (i.e. cash, cheques, debit/credit cards)
- Staff (including their personal belongings)
It is, unfortunately, a fact of business life that a certain minority of staff will steal from their employers or even their fellow employees. Consequently we deal with this issue under “Theft by Staff”.
Involving the staff and emphasizing that anything that helps the profitability of the business must also be good for them is most important. All staff should be involved in crime prevention and encouraged to inform the Employer where any breach of security is noted (see clause in standard contract – Diligence and Honesty). They should understand the purpose of the organisations security systems and how they can play their part in helping to ensure those systems are effective.
Each system installed should have the purpose of making the commission of a crime more difficult. The more time a criminal has to spend at the scene of a crime the greater the chance of discovery. Make sure that all systems are fully operational and effective and that appropriate managers take responsibility for these matters and understand the requirements of the Data Protection Act in regard to CCTV cameras. Full training should be given and repeated at regular intervals.
All aspects of security should be considered from the viewpoint of insurance cover to ensure that good practice prevails and there is no breach of policy terms that could lead to rejection of any claim.
For the purposes of staff discipline, appropriate rules should be introduced dealing with such matters as:
- Security of stock (particularly alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets)
- Handling of cash
- Point of sale procedures and
- Staff safety and their personal belongings.
All staff should be trained in security matters and advised as to the ways this affects them.
Appoint a manager to have overall responsibility for security and ensure that he or she is properly trained on your security procedures and what is required for appropriate implementation.
It is worth pointing out to all staff that any failure by them to deal with security issues could, in some circumstances, put their personal safety or that of fellow employees at risk.
All retailers should carry out regular risk assessments to ensure that their security procedures and rules remain up to standard and are properly implemented.
Looking at the broader picture, all retailers need to consider the extent to which they can or are prepared to be involved with Local Crime Reduction Partnerships. At the very least there should be an awareness of what those partnerships have to offer and the benefits they can provide to the business. To find your local “Partnership” contact ACS..
The ACS Crime Forum is an excellent means of sharing experiences in tackling crime, discussing solutions and establishing good practices for implementation within the sector.
All PBS information sheets are designed to provide the detail you need to implement best business and employment practices. They are not a detailed commentary on the current law and where advice is needed in a specific case you should contact PBS for expert consultation.
security