Lorrae Rowan, Security Manager at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, describes work at the mixed retail-tourist-residential development.
Within the security sector, it is well known how cuts to police budgets are affecting public safety, and this is particularly so on our high streets and retail centres with less and less police on patrol.
The cuts are scheduled to come into place over the next four years, with eight percent reductions in 2012-13, six percent the year after, and four percent in each of the following two years. However, it is proven time and time again that we do still need a police presence to increase the feeling of safety that shoppers need to make an enjoyable day of shopping, lunching and spending.
A particular initiative that looks to increase police presence, and which has really taken off in the last couple of years, is Employee Supported Policing (ESP). Previously known as ShopWatch, it was launched in 2005 in Regent Street, London, enabling employees to release their staff to become special constables. This evolved into ESP – a partnership between employers and the local constabulary with the aim of increasing police presence to reduce the risk and fear of crime. It has really taken off in the retail sector, as many centres, Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth being a prime example, emphasise how important the ‘shopper experience’ really is.
However, for shoppers to want to stay at Gunwharf Quays, they need to have that reassurance that they will be safe. As Hampshire Constabulary is set to cut 160 jobs over the next year as part of budget cuts, this really highlights the need for another measure to ensure there is still a police presence at the centre.
FTSE 250 outsourcing company MITIE is supporting an initiative to increase the numbers of uniformed police around our retail hubs through ESP, whereby SIA badged Security Officers have the opportunity to work as a special constable for a minimum of 16 hours per month under the scheme. The ESP partnership between MITIE, Gunwharf Quays and Hampshire Police began in 2010 and was established to ensure they work together to tackle crime and disorder, and to produce a visible presence that acts as a crime deterrent, helping to reassure the public and occupiers.
Becoming a special constable is a long and intensive process. Four MITIE Customer Service Officers (CSO) at Gunwharf have already completed the recruitment programme and have begun the intense police initial training. ESP training is particularly rigorous, using exactly the same methods in police training. This helps to reassure shoppers, as they know the employees will be at the same police standard. The initiative has many benefits, namely enhancing shopping for visitors and creating a positive retail environment for tenants at Gunwharf. It has already helped to improve and develop the partnership between the centre and the police, and place the security team in a very strong position to take ownership of security and policing issues as part of the extended police family.
An increased police presence in the centre not only provides reassurance to the shoppers but also actively deters crime within the centre. During the period between January 2012 and December 2012, reported crime at Gunwharf Quays fell by 30 per cent. The benefit to the business community can be measured by the increase in Retail Sales at Gunwharf Quays which has seen an increase of 7.5 per cent for the year January 2012 to January 2013. Building a lasting partnership with Gunwharf and Hampshire Police has been an integral part of ensuring the customer experience is always a positive one, benefiting everyone who works, lives and visits Gunwharf Quays and the local community.
