Primark has unveiled new anti-shoplifting tactics to protect their stores from offenders as they prepare for the Christmas shopping period.<\/p>\n
Shoplifting has been on the rise this year, skyrocketing by 20% in the year to March 2025. The festive period in particular is fraught with theft of gift items<\/a>, and often puts retail workers on the frontline of crime, abuse and violence.<\/p>\n But the UK’s high streets have had enough. With the help of Safer Business Network, some London shops are fighting back.<\/p>\n Safer Business Network is helping Primark by using new technology to track, deter and catch criminals before offending escalates. The organisation unites police, retailers, charities and local authorities to share intelligence and catch perpetrators.<\/p>\n Through its partnership with Shopsafe, its Alert data-sharing platform enables retailers to report incidents in real time \u2013 from thefts to suspicious behaviour \u2013 and receive instant alerts to help them prepare themselves against serial thieves<\/a>.<\/p>\n Primark is granted access to key offender profiles<\/a>, allowing them to recognise prolific shoplifters. The intelligence cycle also lets teams anticipate seasonal offending patterns.<\/p>\n Sarah King, Primark\u2019s security manager for UK and Ireland, said: “Post-Covid<\/a>, behaviour has shifted. People are angrier now, and the retail worker often takes the brunt of it. It’s not always shoplifting either, it can be conversations about stock availability, fitting room checks, refunds.<\/p>\n “People won\u2019t stay in jobs where they\u2019re treated this way, and that affects the whole high street.<\/p>\n Adam Ratcliffe, Operations Director at Safer Business Network, said: \u201cOur strength lies in connecting businesses, the police and local authorities through a secure and compliant platform. That means we\u2019re not just reacting; we\u2019re staying one step ahead<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Safer Business Network now operates in more than 50 town centres across London. Many businesses have reportedly seen reductions in antisocial behaviour and shoplifting<\/a>.<\/p>\n Superintendent Lisa Maslen of the City of London Police called Safer Business Network a \u201cfirst class model\u201d that \u201cgives retailers confidence in policing and reporting incidents.\u201d<\/p>\n