Raid-control requires retailers to adopt five crime prevention measures including: staff training, cash minimisation, time delay, image capture and stolen cash traceable. The combination of measures, which were put together with small retailers in mind, is proving to be highly cost effective and has become an accepted standard for reducing commercial robbery.
Raid-control chairman Alan Townsend comments: "We are delighted that the success of the initiative has been recognised by its inclusion in the ACPO Gun Crime Preventative Manual. When we launched the concept we were confident that it had the ability to make a real difference, but as with all initiatives like this they rely on a lot of people pulling together to make it happen. I think the results now speak for themselves."
Just some examples of Raid-control's success in reducing robbery are:
- There have been no robberies in 19 pharmacies in Croydon since Raid-control was installed following a spate of violent repeat attacks in June 2002 - representing an 100% reduction.
- 41 retailers in Stockport suffered 67 robberies between them in the 12 months before Raid-control was installed, since then there have only been 9 - representing a reduction of 87%.
- In the year before Raid-control was installed, 26 retailers in Hackney had suffered 28 robberies between them, since then there has only been 1 - representing a reduction of 96%.
- 13 retailers in Cheshire had suffered 22 robberies between them in the 12 months before Raid-control was installed, since then there have only been 3 - representing a reduction of 86%.
There are now over 250 Raid-control certificated premises across the country and a further 250 awaiting certification. For more information about Raid-control visit the website.