Standing together for Safer Business Action Week
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I’m proud to support this year’s Safer Business Week of Action — a time to stand together with Dorset’s business community and reaffirm our shared commitment to tackling business crime.
Businesses are the lifeblood of Dorset’s economy and a vital part of our local communities. Yet too often, they face challenges such as shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, abuse of staff, and online crime. These are not “victimless” offences - they affect livelihoods, confidence, and the sense of safety we all value.
Business crime is a complex issue which requires partnership working across the board. That’s why I established the Dorset Safer Business Partnership which brings together my office, Dorset Police, and local businesses to focus on prevention, enforcement, and supporting victims. By working together, we can all make a difference and ensure those harming our businesses and communities are brought to justice.
To truly understand why this work matters, it’s important to hear directly from those affected. In the following guest blog, Dave Hiscutt, area manager for a local group of convenience stores shares his personal experience of shoplifting and other retail crime — and the impact it had on both their business and their staff.
I’ve worked in retail for about 20 years and I’m currently an area manager for a group of convenience stores in Weymouth and Christchurch. Over that time, I’ve definitely seen shoplifting and retail related crime get worse — it’s something we deal with every single day in one form or another. It’s often the same people coming back again and again. Shoplifters have become more brazen, I put a lot of this down to the lack of consequences when it comes to retail crime. It’s not just about the police — our local force does a fantastic job — it’s the courts too. Even when someone’s caught, the punishment often isn’t enough to make them think twice next time. I do put some of this down to the disconnect between the act of shoplifting and the impact on the staff / owners trying to deter that theft. It is more than just the loss of the product and the more it occurs the greater the impact on the person.
As a business, we’ve had to step up and put new systems in place. We’ve brought in facial recognition and also AI monitoring of our CCTV, which has made a big difference. The Facial Recognition system gives our team the confidence to tell repeat offenders to leave — it’s not just them saying “no,” it’s the system backing them up. It takes the personal element out of it, which really helps to remove some of the conflict and AI helps us pick up on the undetected thefts.
We’ve also installed a system called Staff Safe — basically a call button behind the counter. When pressed, it cuts the music, plays a loud warning that the store’s being externally monitored, and connects straight to a call centre. The staff get live support while it’s happening, which really helps calm things down, the purpose is to help with de-escalation. The system has access to our cameras and can hear everything in store, it can also contact the police on our behalf and update them where necessary as situations develop. The total cost to the business for crime prevention measures is in the region of £20,000 a year across 3 sites with that still increasing where further measures are necessary, it is worth every penny because it makes our team feel safer although it really does grate on us that this level of investment is necessary to safeguard our business and team, more from the courts and Government legislation needs to be done. Our people are our number one priority — without them, we couldn’t open our doors.
A lot of people think shoplifting is a victimless crime, but it’s not. Whether it’s a big chain or a small family-run shop, it still has an impact — on both the business and the staff. In convenience stores, thefts might not be high value, but the margins are so tight that if someone steals a £10 bottle of wine, we need to sell five more just to make up for it before we make any money to put towards wages and costs. That adds up fast.
But what really bothers me is the effect it has on the team. Some staff feel unsafe, and a few have even been assaulted trying to stop thieves. It’s not just the theft — it’s the abuse and antisocial behaviour that come with it. Soon before bringing in these systems, we were at a point of feeling constantly anxious in the evening, waiting for a call to say someone had been assaulted verbally or physically again.
It makes me angry because a lot of our staff are young people in their first jobs or mums and dads trying to earn a bit of extra money to balance the household bills. They shouldn’t have to face threats or abuse just for doing their job. You couldn’t walk into an office and act that way, so why is it acceptable in a shop? People don’t always see the link between shoplifting and the abuse retail workers deal with. I’ve had people quit their jobs because of the impact of the abuse they can receive, and who could blame them.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about the business — it’s about real, fantastic people trying to make an honest living on the shop floor.
Dave’s story is a powerful reminder of why we must continue to work together to make Dorset a place where everyone feels safe to trade, work, and shop - I salute him and what the company is doing to deter this crime and keep their staff safe.
I want to be clear that Dorset Police takes all business crime seriously; whether through the work of Neighbourhood Policing Teams in providing a visible presence and deterrent or the Dorset Police-led Operation Shopkeeper which targets prolific offenders. Since Operation Shopkeeper began in November 2023, more than 33 prolific offenders have been brought to justice. This matters as we know how active prolific offenders are and the impact they have on businesses and the community.
I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the support available to any shop workers or business owners who are the victim of any crime. Shopworkers who have been directly affected by abuse, anti-social behaviour, or similar issues can reach out to Victim Support for help. They can contact the Dorset office at 0300 3030 163 or get in touch via our website. Alternatively the national Supportline and Livechat services are available 24/7.
In Dorset, Victim Support provide one-to-one sessions with a caseworker or trained volunteer who will assess their needs and work with them to develop a safety and support plan. This plan includes techniques and resources to help them cope and recover from their experiences.
Additionally, the service offer group support sessions for those seeking connections with others who have had similar experiences. It offers a practical focus, peer support, validation, and a safe shared space to discuss their experiences.
If you have been affected by business crime you can find out more about Victim Support’s services here.
David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner