Retailers Against Crime (RAC) and Facewatch Ltd have agreed to work together to promote crime prevention for UK retailers.
Retailers Against Crime was launched 1997 with participation from 47 outlets and today operates in over 2500 major stores. RAC recognise the losses incurred each year by retailers caused by highly organised thieves in their stores. The primary aim of the organisation is to assist its members’ crime prevention strategies by helping to reduce shrinkage, to reduce theft (both internal and external) and identify and reduce exposure to risk.
Under the RAC model, information on crime and acts of violence in the workplace are submitted to RAC for analysis. Intelligence bulletins are then produced featuring images of the most prolific suspects and circulated to members, crime partnerships and police around the UK.
Facewatch, launched in October 2010, is a national crime reporting and image sharing software which enables CCTV evidence (moving and still) to be sent to the police. The online system is approved by Secured by Design, the business arm of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers).
Initially in use with the Metropolitan Police, Facewatch organisers say that it is improving the detection of crimes, as well as acting as a deterrent. Facewatch adds that it is working with a number of partners such as Honeywell.
Maxine Fraser, National Operations Director, RAC, says: “RAC and Facewatch have a strong mutual interest to make a difference with deterring and detecting crime and acts of violence within our member premises. We look forward to working together with Facewatch to promote best practice”.
And Simon Gordon, Executive Chairman of Facewatch, says: “Ensuring that Facewatch is in tune with current thinking in crime reduction practices in the retail sector is key to ensuring we develop our online reporting system that is compatible and useful to the widest number of users. The concept of a National image database, driven by the Facewatch open platform, that all crime reduction organisations are able to use to share information is one of our key goals. Working with the RAC, who have been highly successful in creating a partnership of 2,500 stores across the UK, we hope to learn how we can best use our resources to make retailers safer and more secure for consumers”
Thomas McCrindle, Loss Prevention Manager, Gap, Gap outlet, and Banana republic says: “Retailers Against Crime (RAC) has provided our stores with an excellent, first class service over the past 12 years. Working in partnership with RAC has enabled our stores to receive targeted intelligence assisting the store teams to be proactive in dealing with small, prolific, and professional offenders. Over the years RAC have supplied information and support that has helped identify, deter, and aid in the investigation of incidents resulting in successful outcomes. When you consider that a bulk theft, till theft, or card fraud can result in losses equating to hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds at a time, the cost to invest in RAC membership is small, and an investment in protecting profits.”
