Retailers in Northern Ireland can find out about cost-effective methods to reduce losses from crime when they visit the Lodge Service stand at the Retailers Against Crime Conference (RAC), at the Hastings Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast on 7th June 2022.
Operating throughout Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, Lodge Service develops a total loss strategy for retailers that blends security technology and experienced personnel to provide an integrated solution that secures and protects retail staff and customers, stock, assets and profits.
A security partner to retail groups and independents for 100 Years, Lodge Service is a third-generation family business, committed to high-quality training and security products, to ensure the best standards in security provision.
Services include loss prevention and protection of staff and customers, building and perimeter security, keyholding and 24-hour alarm, CCTV monitoring with emergency response, and security officers, including store detectives.
Lodge Service works with RAC and its members in a national crime prevention partnership to detect and stop crime, including preventing acts of violence against staff, by sharing information on local and nationwide offenders with RAC members in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England.
RAC staff analyse incidents of criminality and the offenders’ details, enabling the organisation to forewarn members and prevent further acts of theft, damage and assault. Lodge Service with RAC is at the forefront in the sector in identifying and providing intelligence on organised crime groups, many of whom are involved in other criminal activities including drugs, firearms, protection rackets and terrorism.
Lodge Service works together with crime prevention partnerships and police forces across the UK and Ireland, sharing relevant intelligence on organised crime groups. RAC training programmes enable staff to detect and prevent crime, with workshops for the wider community, including educating young people on the impact of crime, to create a safer environment.
The overall cost of crime, including both losses and crime prevention costs for retail, has risen year on year and now stands at £2.5 billion in the UK, says the latest BRC annual crime survey. Violence and abuse against staff is up at 455 incidents a day.
Violence and abuse against staff continues to lead the way as the single most important issue for retailers with nearly nine in ten placing it in the top three issues. This was followed by customer theft nominated by eight in ten. Prosecutions remain stubbornly low. Only 6% of reported incidents of violence and abuse ended in prosecution and only 3% were dealt with as aggravated.
About Retailers Against Crime Belfast Conference
Celebrating 15 years of partnership working in Northern Ireland the event will feature the latest issues impacting upon retail and offering practical advice from expert speakers. Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit exhibits promoting and demonstrating some of the latest innovative products to assist in preventing crime.
The conference is free to attend.
Registration with refreshments from 8am. Conference commences at 9am and ends with lunch and networking from1pm.