Amid increasing retail crime, Morrisons deploys CCTV vans across the UK, collaborating with Crimestoppers.
- The initiative involves five vans intended to deter and identify criminal activities in retail spaces.
- Each van prominently displays Crimestoppers’ contact information to facilitate the reporting of crime.
- Morrisons has emphasized the importance of the initiative for the protection of staff and customers.
- Other retailers, like Tesco and Waitrose, are also implementing measures to ensure the safety of their employees.
In response to an unsettling rise in retail crime, Morrisons is rolling out a fleet of CCTV vans to enhance security and protect its assets. The company is expanding its longstanding partnership with Crimestoppers, a collaboration that spans over a decade. This proactive security measure will involve five CCTV-equipped vans that will operate in various locations across the United Kingdom. The primary objectives are to deter criminal activities and ensure swift identification of criminals, thus safeguarding customers and employees. Prominently featured on each van are the Crimestoppers’ telephone number and website, encouraging the public to report any suspicious activities they might encounter.
According to Carl Probert, Morrisons’ corporate protection manager, the partnership with Crimestoppers continues to evolve, with increasing information exchange leading to more decisive actions. Probert stated that relocating the vans to problem areas helps in curtailing ongoing criminal activities and capturing wrongdoers on camera, facilitating appropriate legal pursuits. He underscores that the initiative aims to protect not just the Morrisons business, but also its workforce and the communities surrounding their stores.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has highlighted a troubling trend, noting that abuse against retail workers has nearly doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. In light of this, other major retailers are implementing their own safety measures. Tesco, for instance, is providing body cameras to its store workers as incidents of physical assault have risen to over 200 cases each month. Waitrose is offering complimentary coffees to police officers, as part of their ‘thanks a latte’ initiative, aimed at encouraging more frequent law enforcement presence in stores.
Morrisons’ deployment of CCTV vans underscores a broader trend of advanced security measures being implemented across the retail industry to protect employees and customers.
