Jonathan James Budgens retailer Says: Prevention is always better than cure. A lot of break-ins are opportunist so you need to do all you can to remove the opportunities. Good digital CCTV is affordable and easy to install, and in my stores any products costing more than £5 carry electronic tagging. I also use a smoke cloak, which releases theatrical smoke when the burglar alarm is set off. You can set some security products against tax and they can also help reduce your insurance costs. If criminals do manage to get through your security, I strongly recommend you take a zero-tolerance approach. I'm a great believer in banning orders. Then, any reoffence is treated as a greater crime. Retailers have a duty of care to their employees. All my cashiers have their own panic buttons, which ring the police directly, and I always ensure there is at least one male member of the team on each shift. I deal with all ASBO incidents personally and one huge advantage of being a community retailer is that I'm very likely to know troublesome individuals and their families and can name, shame and make an example of antisocial behaviour. Helen Wylde UK and Ireland marketing director, ADT Says: Independent retailers' role at the heart of communities puts them in a good position to deal with crime because working with others can make a real difference. Joining forces with local police, neighbourhood watch, other retailers and community groups ensures targeted initiatives can be developed and implemented to deal with an area's unique problems. Using combined resources and experiences can help retailers understand the enemy. If graffiti is a problem - why? If staff are faced with abusive or violent behaviour, when does it happen? Understanding the problems and becoming part of community initiatives to tackle them make retailers' actions stronger. Technology plays a vital role but needs to be relevant to the challenges faced. If theft is an ongoing issue, CCTV cameras can be a useful deterrent, especially when placed near high value or out-of-the-way areas on the shop floor. Equally, if aggressive or violent behaviour towards staff is a problem, outdoor lighting can deter would-be trouble makers at night, while lone worker alarms can be effective for staff who feel threatened. DI Paul Anstee Crime Prevention Officer, The Met Says: The UK's move towards Neighbourhood Policing, which basically means putting police on the beat with a role in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, will increase local policing presence on the ground to the benefit of smaller retailers. As for crime prevention generally, although retailers may be tempted to purchase CCTV or some other technological solution, it is often the case that an additional member of staff at certain times of day offers a better option for addressing theft reduction and unruly behaviour. Psychological factors around product location are used by thieves in assessing the risk and effort required to steal goods. If retailers review these they will get the most desired goods for criminal resale under their control. Good sightlines for retailers around the store and appropriate lighting can also help prevent and detect crime. A retailer's local police crime prevention officer can offer free security advice and point retailers in the direction of getting it done practically, along with advising of any funding that may be available to reduce costs.

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