RETAIL & COMMERCIAL
Retail and Commercial Security
Loss prevention, guarding, dog patrols and monitored cameras for shops, retail parks, shopping centres and commercial premises.
THE RISK
The pressures facing retail and commercial premises
Shop theft, organised crime and abuse aimed at staff all hit the bottom line, and they affect how safe colleagues feel at work and how customers see the store. Losses often happen in predictable places and at predictable times, such as busy entrances, high-value aisles, stockrooms and the hour before closing.
Commercial premises face a wider set of risks: break-ins after hours, damage to shopfronts, trespass in service yards and car parks, and alarms that go off when nobody is nearby to check them. A good security plan puts the right mix of people, dogs and cameras where the losses actually occur.
Office buildings, business parks and mixed-use commercial sites also need steady cover: reception and access control during the day, locking up and checking the building at night, and a trusted response when an alarm is triggered. Our key holding service means keys are held securely and officers can let in contractors or emergency services when needed.
- Shop theft by individuals and organised groups
- Abuse and threats towards staff
- Out-of-hours break-ins and damage
- Antisocial behaviour in car parks and service yards
- Unattended alarm activations
IN-STORE
Retail security and loss prevention services
Frontline deterrence during trading hours, backed by reporting that shows where losses are happening.
Loss prevention officers
Uniformed officers deter and detect theft, manage conflict and support your team through busy trading, late opening and other high-risk periods of the week.
Find out moreStore detectives
Plain-clothes officers identify repeat and organised offenders discreetly, without disrupting customers.
Static security guards
SIA-licensed officers hold entrances and stockrooms and give staff a reassuring presence.
Find out moreReception and front-of-house
Officers for office receptions and commercial lobbies, managing visitors, passes, deliveries and building access throughout the working day.
Find out moreAROUND THE SITE
Protecting retail parks and commercial premises
K9 security patrols
NASDU-approved dog units add strong deterrence across retail parks, yards and large-format stores, and secure premises out of hours.
Find out moreMonitored CCTV
Cameras on car parks, loading bays and perimeters, with alerts checked by the Alarm Receiving Centre and footage kept for 31 days for evidence.
Find out moreMobile patrols
Cover for multi-site estates and lock-ups, with checks at varied times.
Find out moreAlarm response and key holding
Officers attend activations so store managers are not called back late at night.
Find out more
STAFF SAFETY
A visible presence that supports your team
Security officers are often the first people staff turn to when a situation escalates, whether that is a known shoplifter returning, an aggressive customer or a group causing trouble near the tills. Our officers are SIA-licensed and trained to manage conflict calmly, so incidents are handled professionally and colleagues feel supported rather than left to deal with problems alone.
We brief officers on your store layout, procedures and the individuals or behaviour your team has reported, and agree how incidents should be recorded, including what information is needed to support a police report. Regular reporting helps management see where and when problems happen, so cover can be moved to where it does most good.
For shopping centres and retail parks, perimeter and car park patrols deal with problems before they reach the shop floor. Dealerships have their own risks, covered on our car storage and dealership security page, while distribution centres are covered under warehouse security.
HOW IT WORKS
Setting up retail security
Loss and risk review
We look at where and when losses and incidents happen, at your layout, stockroom access and trading hours, and at what your staff are reporting.
Security plan
We recommend officers, detectives, patrols or cameras and agree reporting and escalation.
Briefing and start
Officers are briefed on your store, policies and contacts before their first shift.
Report and refine
Regular reports show what is working, and cover is adjusted for peak trading periods such as Christmas.
FAQs
Retail security FAQs
What is the difference between a loss prevention officer and a store detective?
A loss prevention officer is usually uniformed and visible, deterring theft and supporting staff at entrances and on the shop floor. A store detective works in plain clothes to identify and deal with repeat and organised offenders discreetly. Many retailers use a combination of the two, depending on the store.
Can security dogs be used at retail parks?
Yes. NASDU-approved dog units are well suited to retail park car parks, service yards and perimeters, especially out of hours. They provide a strong visible deterrent and can cover large open areas efficiently. In-store cover is normally provided by uniformed officers.
Can you cover several shops in one area?
Yes. Mobile patrols can visit several premises on one route, checking shutters, doors and yards at varied times. Alarm response and key holding can be set up for each site, and officers can be placed in the stores that need them most.
How are incidents recorded?
Officers record incidents in line with the process agreed at the start of the contract, and clients receive reports that show what happened, where and when. This helps with police reports, insurance claims and deciding where security is most needed across your stores.
Can you provide extra cover during busy periods?
Yes. Cover can be increased for peak trading periods, sales, store openings or refits, and reduced again afterwards. Because we are available 24/7, late-night and early-morning shifts can also be arranged around deliveries, stock takes and shopfitting work, when doors are open and staff are busy.
Request a quote
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Tell us about the site, the problem you are facing and the hours you need covered, and we will come back to you with a price and a plan. No obligation.
Prefer to talk? Call 0344 800 7066 any time — we answer 24 hours a day.
Call our experts today
Talk to a security specialist about your site, any time of day or night.
0344 800 7066Request a quote