RAC(Retailers Against Crime) and Facewatch work together to promote best practice in crime prevention
Retailers Against Crime (RAC) and Facewatch Ltd are proud to announce that they have agreed to work together in order to promote best practice in crime prevention strategies for retailers throughout the UK.
Retailers Against Crime was launched 1997 with participation from 47 outlets and today operates in over 2,500 major stores. RAC recognise the massive losses incurred each year by retailers caused by highly organised thieves in their stores. The primary aim of the organisation is to assist its members’ crime prevention strategies by helping to reduce shrinkage, to reduce theft (both internal and external) and identify and reduce exposure to risk.
RAC is a tried and tested model which provides a range of tools to assist with these problems. Information on crime and acts of violence in the workplace are submitted to RAC for analysis. Intelligence bulletins are then produced featuring images of the most prolific suspects and circulated to members, crime partnerships and police throughout the UK.
Facewatch, launched in October 2010, is the UK’s only National Crime Reporting and image sharing solution which enables CCTV evidence (moving and still) to be sent directly to the Police. It is the only online system approved by Secured by Design, the business arm of ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers).
Initially in use with the Metropolitan Police, but now rolling out fast across the UK, Facewatch is improving the detection of crimes, as well as acting as a powerful deterrent. Seeing the Facewatch brand in stores, restaurants, pubs and clubs also improves security and safety for customers and employees. The Facewatch system saves retailers money by facilitating more efficient procedures as well as reducing shrinkage. Facewatch is working with a number of key partners such as Honeywell in order deliver the very best crime prevention solutions to their clients.
Maxine Fraser, National Operations Director, RAC
“RAC and Facewatch have a strong mutual interest to make a difference with deterring and detecting crime and acts of violence within our member premises. We look forward to working together with Facewatch to promote best practice”.
Simon Gordon, Executive Chairman, Facewatch Ltd
“Ensuring that Facewatch is in tune with current thinking in crime reduction practices in the retail sector is key to ensuring we develop our online reporting system that is compatible and useful to the widest number of users. The concept of a National image database, driven by the Facewatch open platform, that all crime reduction organisations are able to use to share information is one of our key goals. Working with the RAC, who have been highly successful in creating a partnership of 2,500 stores across the UK, we hope to learn how we can best use our resources to make retailers safer and more secure for consumers”
Thomas McCrindle, Loss Prevention Manager, Gap, Gap outlet, & Banana republic commented:
“Retailers Against Crime (RAC) has provided our stores with an excellent, first class service over the past 12 years. Working in partnership with RAC has enabled our stores to receive targeted intelligence assisting the store teams to be proactive in dealing with small, prolific, & professional offenders. Over the years RAC have supplied information and support that has helped identify, deter, and aid in the investigation of incidents resulting in successful outcomes. When you consider that a bulk theft, till theft, or card fraud can result in losses equating to hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds at a time, the cost to invest in RAC membership is small, and an investment in protecting profits”.
For more information please contact:
Maxine Fraser, National Operations Director RAC
07778 580201
E mail: maxine@retailersagainstcrime.org
Simon Gordon, Chairman, Facewatch Ltd
Email : simon.gordon@facewatch.co.uk
T: 0845 437 9629
Stuart Greenfield – PR Consultant
Email: stuart@greenfield.co.uk
T: 07788 662697
Website: www.facewatch.co.uk
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