A&R Security Services is based in Bridgend and provides security services to businesses across South Wales and the South West

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Retail worker, violent and abusive behavior, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Lockdown

COVID-19: Is violence against retail workers getting worse?

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When we think about those working through the pandemic, many think about the NHS staff, police force, fire, and ambulance services. But there are one group of key workers who have been vital in keeping Wales and the rest of the UK going and that are retail workers.

However, since the start of the lockdown in March, there has been increasing reports of retail workers receiving violent and abusive behaviour from customers. In response to this increase in violent behaviour, one supermarket chain Co-op announced that they were going to supply frontline staff who worked at 250 stores with body cameras.

The issue surrounding retail workers becoming victims of violent and abusive behaviour is one that has been around for years. But has the recent COVID-19 pandemic caused this sort of behaviour to increase? And is there anything being done to help protect retail workers?

In a recent article from ITV Wales, it mentioned that violent and abusive behaviour more than doubled during the pandemic, with the USDAW (a union representing welsh shop workers) calling for a law to protect retail workers from such behaviour.

Many retail workers who worked at supermarkets and other retailers felt anxious returning to work in fear that they would either be spat at, coughed or sneezed in response to them asking for customers to socially distance – as well as being pushed and verbally abused when enforcing buying limits on in-demand goods or being unable to issue returns on goods.

The USDAW conducted a survey and found that 1 in 6 shop workers were being abused on every shift and well over half (62%) of 5,000 workers surveyed said they experienced verbal abuse since the start of the pandemic. Whilst a third had been threatened by a customer and 4% had been assaulted.

One retail worker who took part in the USDAW survey said “I had never cried in work until the first week of the lockdown. I received constant abuse from nearly every customer during one shift when the rules were changed so that we couldn’t accept returns. I finally broke when one woman refused to leave the store and insulted me and berated me for not doing the return.

“The following day a man was very aggressive towards me for the same reason and I could visibly see him twitching in a way that suggested he was about to become violent. My job has become emotionally draining and it is really starting to affect my mental health.”

When averaged across the entire retail sector of 3 million workers, it showed that 3,500 workers were assaulted every day over a 34day period.

So what action is being taken to ensure the safety of retail workers?

The government has set out plans to crack down on the violent and abusive behaviour the retailers face on a daily basis. This included working alongside the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on best-practise guide to help support shop workers report acts of violent and abusive behaviour, strengthening and making full use of existing laws, and improving data sharing between businesses and the police.

However, there is opposition out there who think that the government’s plans aren’t enough to protect retail staff effectively. The BRC and Association of stores have both criticised the home office for not seeking to introduce specific and harsher offences to those attacking shop workers. ACS’s CEO said, ‘Warm words and working groups aren’t enough; we need tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers and more police resources to stamp out violence”.

If your retail staff have been a victim of abusive and violent behaviour before and during the pandemic, then speak to us about our effective retail security solutions. Our manned guards hold full SIA licenses and are fully trained to act accordingly to protect your retail staff from abusive and violent customers. To learn more about how we can help take a look at our website here or get in touch with us on 01656 713950.

Crime rate, Crimes, Unemployment, Cardiff, Pandemic, COVID-19, Business Security, A&R Security Services, Security Services, Manned guards, mobile Patrols

Is the rise in unemployment causing a rise in crimes?

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Since the COVID-19 landed on our shores, over 300,000 people in Wales have been on furlough up to the end of June 2020 – representing 28.9% of the Welsh workforce.

But despite the furlough scheme supporting employees and businesses and Wales slowly taking steps to return to normal, Wales and the UK’s economy is facing an economic downturn, with their already being high numbers of unemployment due to job cuts. Now with the government announcing that the furlough scheme will be ending in October 2020, the number of those becoming unemployed will increase further. Leading to one thing – high levels of crime.

Throughout history, there has been a correlation between large numbers of unemployment and increased levels of crime. In Cardiff County, statistics from South Wales Police show that between March and May (when lockdown was enforced) there has been a 50% increase in crimes – with Anti-social behaviour, Violent Crimes and Public order being the highest crimes reported.

Now with industries feeling the effects of the recent lockdown in Wales – there will be more and more people resorting to criminal activities such as theft and vandalism in an attempt to make quick money from stolen goods.

And for businesses who have been able to remain open and continue operating, this is bad news. So, it makes sense to invest in more robust security measures with a professional security provider that you can trust to protect your business.

Choosing the right security provider that can provide effective security to suit your needs

It may be easy to cut security measures to save money during these difficult times, but investing in more robust security measures can save you money and a lot of headaches in the long run. So, it’s important that your choose a security provider who can easily full fill your security needs.

For us, we understand that no two businesses are the same and can facilitate a business’ unique security needs and create bespoke security contracts that offer the best protection.

We understand that for some business’ it may be just key holding & alarm response services that they need for or for larger businesses, they may need 24-hour manned guards and/or mobile patrols services to provide suitable protection from criminals.

We can offer a range of bespoke services that can effectively protect your business. Including:

  • Keyholding & Alarm Response Services
  • Manned Guarding
  • Mobile Patrols
  • Concierge / Front of house Security
  • Construction Security

Whether your business holds large amounts of stock, operates 24 hours of the day – 7 days a week, covers a large area or is in a remote location, we can provide effective security services to ensure that your business is fully protected during these difficult times.

For more information about our security services visit our website or to arrange a no-obligation quote give us a call on 01656 713950.

Hospitality, Hospitality industry, Hospitality Security, July 13th, Pub, Restaurant, Hotel, Security Guards, Manned Guards, Crowd control, event Security, Pub security, restaurant security, hotel security

Hospitality Security: Why should you have Crowd Control?

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At the start of the pandemic in March, much of the hospitality industry within Wales and the UK closed their doors, with no end date in sight.

Although the government have been supportive with the furlough scheme and has helped many businesses within the hospitality industry keep paying their bills it can only go so far and soon the government will not be able to continue with the scheme.

Many businesses within the hospitality industry will be fearing that with no end in-sight and support from the government soon to end, many would be faced with the hard truth of having to cuts jobs and even close their doors for the final time. And for many owners and employees within the industry, working in hospitality is a passion, not a job.

However, during the past few days, there were the beginnings of light at the end of the tunnel when First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford announced plans for businesses within the hospitality industry to once again open their doors and welcome staff and customers.

But, even with the new announcement and the relaxation in lockdown rules, it is not as simple as opening the doors and letting customers walk in. There are still rules that both you and your customers need to adhere to, to ensure both your safety during this time.  This includes:

  • Limiting the number of customers within your premises at one time.
  • Ensuring ‘pinch points’ such as doors and tight corners/space are kept clear and social distancing is being followed
  • Using one-way systems for customers and staff to enter and exit your premises.
  • Preventing customers from doing up to the bar by introducing table service
  • Gather customer contact details so that ‘track & trace’ can be adopted should an outbreak of the coronavirus is reported.

Right now, with lockdown rules in Wales relaxing, social distancing very much remains in place. To ensure that your customers follow strict social distancing rules, invest in having crowd control services from A&R Security Services.

Throughout the pandemic, we have been continually providing effective security for our clients across South Wales and all of our security staff understand the importance of social distancing during this time and how to effectively implement it.

With crowd control now being the important topic for businesses within the hospitality industry who are looking to re-open on the 13th July, it’s not only the logistics that they have to think about, it’s also the necessary implementation of professional and trustworthy crowd control services that will keep both customers and staff safe.

As stated by a member of the police force on this week’s news, “Alcohol and social distancing don’t mix” especially when some customers may have had one too many. Investing in physical security guards to provide effective crowd control means that you have the safety of your customers and staff firmly in your mind and it takes the pressure off your staff having to ensure that your customers are staying safe whilst having a good time.

For more information on how we can work with you to provide effective crowd control for your business then visit our website here or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation today.

re-opening, Security, lockdown, crime risk, business security, keyholding, mobile patrols, a&R Security Services

Can re-opening your business from ‘lockdown’ put you at risk of crime?

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Many businesses like yourself will be looking forward to re-opening your doors after months of lockdown. But besides ensuring that your staff and your customers stay safe when open, there are a few security risks that you need to consider when re-opening your business after lockdown.

Here are a few security risks that you need to consider:

Forgetful staff

We all know how easy it is to forget something when we haven’t done it for a long time, and this can be said for staff who have been furloughed. Some of your staff would have spent almost 10 weeks inside their homes and 10 weeks is a long time if your staff haven’t anything to keep their brains stimulated.

So, when staff return to work, it can be difficult for them to return back to their normal routine in work and can lead them to forget to close windows, doors, reset alarm codes or lock up. Leaving your building unknowingly vulnerable to criminal attacks.

To avoid your business becoming vulnerable at the end of the day due to forgetful staff invest in our professional key holding services. Our guards can conduct internal checks to ensure that all areas of your building is secure and can lock up when all of your staff have left for the day.

 Increased stock levels

You will most probably agree that lockdown has been playing on your nerves and you’re excited to get your business open once again. And you know what this means? Stock can be ordered; goods can be stored, and shipments can be made up for clients. However, with these increased levels of stock being left overnight or a large influx of deliveries, these can put your business at risk. Whether you have a warehouse or store full of stock our professional security guards can patrol your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ensuring that no unauthorised personal trespass onto your site.

Boundaries

As mentioned, 10 weeks is a long time for businesses to be closed and over those weeks, your business’ external boundaries could have been damaged by those attempting to trespass, compromising its integrity and effectiveness at keeping trespassers out. Before you open your business, conduct a patrol around the perimeter of your business, taking note of any damages or potential areas that could be exploited by criminals looking to target your business.

One way you can maintain your perimeter security is investing in our professional mobile guards. Our professional mobile guards can conduct regular or irregular patrols around the perimeter of your business looking out for any damages to your boundary fencing or suspicious individuals.

For more information about our professional security services and how they can help keep your business security when re-opening then take a look here or to arrange a free quote call us on 01656 713950.

Has lockdown reduced crime rates in Cardiff?

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Right now, lockdown and social distancing have become the new norm.  But, with the recent relaxations in lockdown rules here in Wales and in Cardiff, there are more people walking the streets and businesses are beginning to welcome back staff and re-open their doors to the public (all the while maintaining social distancing rules).

However, if you looked at the streets in Cardiff Central or the large towns in the surrounding areas a few months ago, you would have seen them empty with a few people or vehicles going by. So, it would be easy to assume that with the lockdown measures in place crimes rates would have fallen. Right?

Well to answer that question we did a little comparison of the Crime Rates in both Cardiff Central and Cardiff County over a period of 6 months (3 months before and 3 months during lockdown).

Overall Crime Rates in Cardiff Central

February 2020 March 2020 April 2020
1,617 1,460 1,219
November 2019 December 2019 January 2020
1,458 1,518 1,453

 

Overall Crime Rates in Cardiff County

February 2020 March 2020 April 2020
3,907 3,641 4,152
November 2019 December 2019 January 2020
3,769 3,688 3,863

 

Compared to November’s recorded crime rate in Cardiff Central, February had the highest recorded number of crimes with it steadily decreasing in April by 16.1%. However, with April having the lowest number of recorded crimes out of the months spanning from November 2019 to March 2020 it had the highest number of anti-social behaviour reports at 533 (increasing by 87.7%).

However, the statistics for Cardiff County paint a very different picture with crimes rates being significantly higher in April compared to the 3 months during and before lockdown. With Anti-social behaviour being the highest recorded crime at 2,019 reports.

Normally Anti-social behaviour relates to youths either loitering, fighting, making loud noise or other behaviour but it also involves in the trespassing and the damaging of properties – which can cost struggling businesses thousands to put right.

So these statistics show that even with the stricter lockdown rules in place for the public’s safety, there were still a high number of crimes committed in Cardiff Central and in the county – which begs the question should you be investing more heavily in your security now?

We say yes.

Right now lockdown rules are beginning to relax and we are seeing more people walking around and travelling which increases the risk of businesses becoming targets for more damaging crimes – which can be devastating for businesses who are currently struggling during this difficult time.

One way you can deter criminals from targeting your business is investing in our professional Manned Guarding and Mobile patrols. You may be thinking having guards to protect your business may seem excessive, but they are the perfect solution to give your security that physical presence.

Manned Guards

If you are looking for a more fixed physical presence for your security during lockdown, then our manned guards are the perfect solution. All of our staff are fully trained in customer services and are SIA licensed to operate and provide security services and can work in shift patterns allowing your businesses to be protected 24/7 365days a year.

Depending on your business or premises our professional manned guards can be stationed by main entrances or main gates to monitor who is entering or exiting your building and turn away anyone who may be acting suspiciously or in a threatening manner. If you need secure keyholding our manned guards can hold onto a set of keys for your business, allowing contractors, tradesmen, authorised staff, and emergency services to enter your building. They can also be used as concierge, providing customer service to your staff and visitors, answering queries and monitoring CCTV for any suspicious activity or damages (such as leaking pipes, etc)

Mobile Patrols

If you are a business that is located in a remote location, a large area or are spread over multiple sites then having mobile patrols is the perfect solution.

All of our Mobile patrol vehicles are fully branded and show criminals that you take the security of your business seriously. Our mobile guards can conduct regular patrols at a time that is suited to you or if you want to make the patrols less predictable then we can have our mobile guards conduct patrols at irregular times. Alongside conducting patrols around your property, we can create electronic check-in points for our guards to check-in so that you know that your business is being patrolled and is secure. Very much like our manned guarding services our mobile patrols can act as secure key holders, allowing contractors, authorised personnel or emergency services into your business and quickly respond to any alarm call-outs.

But not only do these two security services give your business a more physical security presence, it also showcases to staff that when they return to work that you take their safety seriously and you have taken steps.

Throughout lockdown, we have been providing effective and professional security solutions to businesses across South Wales including a large office block within Cardiff Central. Although the building saw a large number of their occupants leaving at the beginning of lockdown to work from home, our professional manned guards continued to provide our security services. To ensure that the building was secure throughout the day and evening our manned guards worked in shift patterns, providing concierge services to those visiting the business, monitoring CCTV for any suspicious activity, and quickly responding to any alarms and alerts.  Giving the building manager and owner peace of mind that their building was in safe and capable hands.

For more information about our Manned guarding, mobile patrols, concierge services and key holding visit our website or to arrange a free quote call us on 01656 713950

Office, lock down, staff, return to work, Cardiff, A&R Security Services, Security Services, Office Security, Coronavirus, Healthcare, schools, industrial, retail

Security, Social Distancing, Crowd Control oh my!

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Lockdown has been a worrying and uneasy time for businesses across South Wales, with many having to furlough staff and close their doors for which could be the final time.

But with the Welsh Government slowly relaxing lockdown rules, many businesses across South Wales will see this as an opportunity to get staff back in work and begin the process of returning to normal operations.

However, even with plans for staff to return and businesses returning to normal operations, it is important for you to do this safely and at the right time, ensuring that strict social distancing measures are still being followed to keep everyone safe.

This means that you should be planning for the safety of your staff, visitors, and reputation to avoid any costly and potentially devastating mistakes. If you haven’t already thought or considered a security presence at your business, thinking all security guards do is simply patrol at night in industrial estates, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Just as your business has had to change adapt to the changing environment, so have we and there are several ways a trained and specialised security presence could benefit your business.

1.      Social Distancing and Security

Although lockdown procedures are relaxing social distancing rules are very much still in place. Our Security officers are trained to maintain social distancing measures and understand the increased risks that lockdown may have caused to your business. Our professional security guards can assist with the monitoring of people allowed within your building and can have security officers inside to keep your staff and customers safe. This may include guiding people to follow your one-way system and managing some individual who don’t follow guidelines.

2.      Crowd Control

For businesses in the retail industry during lockdown queues outside as become the new norm, with many setting strict 2-metre guidelines. For supermarkets and smaller local businesses, this many see an increase in crowds at peak times (especially around lunchtime) and these will need to be managed.

Having security guards at your business acts as an incredible deterrent to unfavourable behaviour and can support social distancing measures too.

3.      Traffic Control

Many popular fast-food restaurants are implementing drive-thru services and at peak times this could mean large queues of traffic. Maintaining good traffic flow within and outside of the restaurants’ premises, assisting with any parking or one-way systems and being highly trained in de-escalating any potentially heated outbursts, our security guards can be a welcomed addition in these difficult times.

 

If you are looking for quality professional security solutions for your business during these uncertain times please give get in touch with us here or visit our website for further details.

Concierge Security, Concierge Security Services, Security Services,Security, A&R Security Services

Concierge Security: 5 reasons why you should have it

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Whether you are a corporate building, a lavish hotel in the heart of the city centre or a manufacturing unit based in outskirts, they all need one thing. Security. In Swansea, there are hundreds of security providers offering a range of security services that will protect your business including concierge security.

But what is concierge security we hear you ask?
Concierge Security acts as another form of receptionist where they greet visitors to your building, take messages and answer any queries. But Concierge security staff also have the ability to control access to your building (whether that is internal or external) monitor CCTV, quickly respond to any emergency situations and apprehend criminals targeting your business.

So, what are the 5 reasons why you should have concierge security?

Instant protection

There are many benefits to having concierge security and one of the main benefits of having concierge security is instant support in terms of safety and patrols.  Not only can concierge monitor CCTV and raise alarms should there be anything threatening the safety of your business, but they also have the correct skills and training to handle and diffuse potential criminal situations.

By hiring concierge security for your business, you will have someone who is watching for any potential threats to your business. Giving you peace of mind that you can leave your premises lone for long periods of time.

Fully Vetted and Trained Staff

When looking for concierge security it is important to hire fully vetted, licensed and trained staff to protect your business. All of our staff are employed directly by us and are fully vetted by ourselves, ensuring that they are legally allowed to work within specific buildings and areas and are trained to the highest of standards.

Employing your own security staff can be tricky and a bit headache-inducing so letting a professional security provider that is able to fully vet and train their own staff, leaving you more time to focus on running your business and us taking care of the security.

It’ll save you money

We all like to save a bit of money where we can but outsourcing your concierge security can do the same. As you only need to pay for one service you don’t have to deal with pay, uniform, training and vetting costs. Outsourcing your concierge means you pay for specific staff as and when you need them and what’s great about outsourcing your concierge to us, you only have to pay for the services you want (no hidden costs or price hikes).

5-star customer service

You want to give your customers and visitors a face that they can trust when they walk into your building. Having concierge stationed by your reception will allow them to greet clients and visitors to your business and answer any queries or concerns that they may have.

Alongside providing clients and visitors with 5-star customer service, they can ensure that they receive all the regular protection they need. Concierge security can arrange emergency procedures and can ensure that any incidents are fully logged and taken care of.

Clients and visitors so to your business will find concierge a wealth of knowledge and information, as well as help. They will make sure that your business is fully protected and that your guests receive full answers to their burning questions.

Takes the hassle off your hands

When thinking about concierge security for your business it can be very tempting to employ security staff yourself but with further inspection, it can be both timeconsuming and expensive. And think about the other hassle you need to deal with such as welcoming and checking in guests, making sure security protocols are being adhered to.

So, outsourcing your concierge security is a bit of a no brainer. You won’t have to worry about vetting or checking anyone that comes or goes from your business. Our professional security staff can be set to work in establishing a firm but friendly face at the front of your business. They’ll follow your security protocols and will make sure that your CCTV and other security measures are monitored and analysed.

Running a business can take up a lot of your time and you may not have thought or considered concierge security for your business, but there are plenty of reasons why it can benefit you and your business in the long run.

Rather than having to focus on employing your own security staff and training them, why not look at hiring concierge security from a security provider that you can fully trust.

A&R Security provides a wide range of security services that have benefited many businesses across South Wales and the South West. If you are considering Concierge Security for your business visit our website or call us on 01656 713950 for a free non-obligation quote.

Construction, Lockdown, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Construction Security Services, A&R Security Services

Lockdown: How to protect your Construction Site

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Those who work within the construction industry know that there are high levels of crime, with many reporting theft and vandalism on a regular basis. However, with only essential construction being carried out during the Coronavirus outbreak, many sites across Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and the UK have had to temporarily close their gates – leaving them vulnerable to criminal activity.

A survey carried out by the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) reported that 92% of sites claim to be affected by crime with a further 21% of sites saying that they are stolen from on a regular basis. These figures are often attributed to high staff turnover, poor record-keeping and poor security measures.

However, there are some cost-effective security measures that you can implement to boost your construction sites security during these difficult times.

Risk Assessment

Before spending vast amounts of money to improve your construction sites security it is best to have a risk assessment carried out by a professional security provider. This will help you identify which areas will need security, which areas will need improvement and ensure that your security is covering all possible areas of weakness on your site.

Construction Security

Professional Security providers like ourselves will provide professional construction security services to sites. But to many sites construction security is a little bit of an unknown, with many site owners not really knowing what it is or what it does.

Construction Security is an umbrella term and usually entails services such as:

  • CCTV monitoring
  • Alarm response
  • Manned Guards and Mobile Patrols
  • Access Control
  • Secure Keyholding

Construction Security is very good for covering all aspects of security and can be easily tailored to suit your site’s needs while it is temporarily closed.

Alongside having construction security for your site there are a few other measures that can be implemented to give you tighter security.

Create and maintain an up-to-date log

Whether your site is on a small scale or large scale, you will have materials, equipment and possibly vehicles left on site (preferably secured). However, there are employees or criminals that will take advantage of the fact that your site is temporarily closed and will take this opportunity to steal anything that they can get their hands on.

Creating and maintaining an up-to-date log of materials, equipment and vehicles will help you keep track of what is and isn’t onsite – allowing you to quickly respond and report anything stolen. After all emergency services such as the police have a better chance at returning stolen good when they are reported missing quickly.

Have a clear zone around your perimeter

Fencing is a very basic security measure to keep trespassers off your site. However, if your fencing is close to the perimeter of your site this will make it very easy for criminals to sneak in and out of your site without anyone noticing.

When installing fencing on your site, ensure that it is a couple of meters away from the site itself. This will make it harder for criminals to sneak onto your site and easier for you, your guards or CCTV to spot them trespassing onto your site. It also makes it difficult for criminals to see what is actually stored on your site.

Mark Equipment

Equipment such as mini diggers, generators, heavy tools and other equipment can be very easy targets and are often stolen and quickly sold on. Engraving marks on your equipment will make them less likely to be stolen and if they are, they are easily recognisable.

Most tools on construction sites are metal so engraving certain numbers, your company logo or symbol will easily deter thieves. Engraving tools are cheap, readily available and easy to use, but the amount of money and time they will save you could be substantial. Some tools are interchangeable or can be broken down for easier transportation so make sure to engrave multiple areas.

Reduce access points

If you have a reduced team of workers working during your lockdown, then you may want to reduce the number of access points you have. This allows you or your security team to easily track who is coming in and out of your site and also ensure that your workers aren’t able to sneak off-site with valuable materials or equipment through another gate on site.

Reducing the number of access points make your perimeter stronger but your main access points (main gates) are still vulnerable. Placing CCTV camera’s, security lights and manned guards at your main access points will reduce the chances of someone attempting to get onto your site illegally.

If you are interested in our Construction Security Services then please visit our website for more information or contacts us on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation.

Card, fraud, contactless, Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services, Card fraud

Contactless card payment increase: Does this pose a great risk for card fraud?

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From Wednesday 1st April, rules surrounding contactless payments will change with the limit being increased from £30 to £45. With social distancing now in effect to control the spread of the Coronavirus, retailers want to limit the amount of cash that staff are handling.

However, with the increased limit on contactless payments does this pose a greater increase for card fraud?

In September 2019, fraud prevention rules came into play where you would have to input your pin for one in every five contactless payments. Around South Wales and the UK, we make around 700 million contactless transactions to pay for our goods. However, £108 million is said to be lost to fraud with 1 in 12 people admitting that they wouldn’t spot a rogue £20 entry on their bank statements.

However, to stop thieves going on a massive spending spree on your debit or credit card, payments can be blocked if the number of payments adds up to more than £100 within 5 payments.

But even with these security features in place, there are exceptions where thieves can use your card without being blocked.

Public transport

With buses, trains, train stations all adopting contactless payments it can be easy for thieves to spend your money using your card multiple times without having to input the cards pin number.

Google or Apple Pay

Google or Apple pay are features that are on everyone’s smartphones. Although you do not need to input a pin after making 5 payments, they often ask for some kind of ID (fingerprint or facial recognition).

Stay safe

The SGA or Strong Customer Authentication will help prevent fraudulent spends on your debit or credit card but to ensure that you know to stay safe here are some tips:

Check your bank statements regularly

With banks becoming increasingly paperless many of us receive our bank statements online. However, to keep track of your transactions, it’s recommended to download banking apps and set up alerts for spending.

If you have looked at your account and see unusual transactions contact your bank immediately and have your account frozen. Contactless fraud is treated like any other type of fraud and so any transactions that were carried out without your knowledge should be repaid as long as you can prove that you haven’t been negligent.

If you have checked your account and think that you are a victim of fraud, then you should report it as soon as you can to Action Fraud either using their online tool or by calling them directly.

Check your credit report

Running a credit report does more than showing you how well your finances are and your eligibility for finance and loans. It can help you spot any suspicious activity – for example, if someone uses your credit card or tries to open a bank account in your name it will show.

If you are interested in commercial security services then visit our website or call us on 01656 713950

Retail, Retail Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services

Why security officers are vital for retail stores.

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Retailers are constantly being targeted by criminal activity which often results in lost revenue and costly damages. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reports over 10,000 shop thefts per day in the UK. Theft by customers has increased by 33% and damages to retailers have increased by 105% in 2019.

With these increases, retail workers are also seeing increased volumes of violence, abuse and robberies on a day-to-day basis. The most concerning thing is that criminal are resorting to violent behaviour to assist with theft and crimes are usually committed by those who are either intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.

As mentioned, retailers face violence, abuse and robberies on a daily basis but they also see a range of crimes including:

Shoplifting:

Shoplifting usually involves the theft of goods from a retailer. It can be committed by an individual or by groups of people.

Checkout fraud

Some customers who come into a store will go to great lengths to avoid paying for items properly. They may swap price stickers, swap barcodes or not pay for all items at the till. This is why all items (especially high-value items) should be security tagged and retail staff should be vigilant.

Money Fraud

Although banks and the Royal Mint have created ways to prevent criminals from stealing cards or counterfeiting money, the are still some who manage this. Retailers should have restrictions and checks in place to avoid this. For example, banknotes should be checked under UV lamps to check their authenticity.

Refund Fraud

Many who return goods which are not good or no longer needed are innocent. However, there are some that try to forge receipts and attempt to return stolen items in the hopes of gaining money or credit.

Moped Gangs

Although this is not frequently seen in Cardiff and other Welsh cities, moped crimes are still a serious problem. In larger cities such as London, there has been an increase in moped gangs targeting high-end stores such as jewellers and electronic stores.

 

With this range of crimes committed, it can be difficult for retailers to remain both vigilant and run their store. So, how can security officers help?

Security officers can help protect your retail store, employees, customers and products from thieves and other criminals. Shoplifting is one of the most common types of theft within the retail industry and is a real concern. With many customers flocking to our high streets, it can be incredibly difficult for staff to remain vigilant and carry out their job to the best of the abilities.

Having security guards in place gives your staff that extra set of eyes to look out for any suspicious-looking persons or behaviour. But they are also an effective deterrent and can quickly act accordingly if they spot anyone stealing for your store.

If there is a situation that has escalated quickly, security guards can help de-escalate a situation and address any threats and violence before they occur. Controlling crowds during peak times is also important. Officers can control customers to ensure that they are able to shop safely.

Retail staff are not trained well enough to calmly deal with an emergency. Security officers are trained in first aid, fire safety and health and safety and are able to assess and calmly deal with a situation.

Investing in manned guards give your customers and staff peace of mind – knowing that their safety is your top priority. Any suspicious activity can be continuously monitored, and any emergencies are dealt with correctly and swiftly, and tense situations are prevented. This allows your retail staff to get on with their jobs.

If you are a retailer in Cardiff and are looking to employ security staff, then look at our manned guard security services. All of our guards hold full SIA licenses and are fully trained. Hiring security officers puts companies and individuals at an advantage. As officers can provide a physical presence, surveillance and on-going patrols.

If you would like to know more about our services then please contact A&R Security Services on 01656 713950  or visit our website