During the period from March 17th to 21st, the first ever National BCRP Awareness Week will be held, that highlights the vital and diverse contributions of BCRPs across the UK and the communities they support.
To commemorate National BCRP Awareness Week, SentrySIS will present a crime partnership each day, providing a detailed overview of their activities and enabling them to share their perspectives on the significance of being a BCRP in the United Kingdom.
Today we highlight : Retailers Against Crime.
Retailers Against Crime (RAC) is a national, not-for-profit crime partnership established in 1997. Its primary aim is to support the retail sector in identifying and preventing crime, including acts of violence, by sharing intelligence on both local and travelling offenders. RAC operates across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the North West of England, working with over 1,500 retail businesses, including national chains, independent retailers, shopping centres, and retail parks.
The organisation employs specialist staff who analyse offender behaviour, identifying their methods, associates, and targeted locations. This proactive approach enables RAC to alert its members, helping them to detect and prevent crimes before they take place.
Significantly, RAC plays a crucial role in identifying and providing intelligence on organised crime groups, many of which are also involved in other serious offences, such as drugs and human trafficking.
To combat retail crime effectively, RAC delivers bespoke training programmes for its members, highlighting active suspects and emerging crime trends. Members also have access to educational resources designed to help them recognise and prevent criminal activity. Beyond the retail sector, RAC is committed to community engagement, running workshops that educate young people on the consequences of crime, promoting public safety and long-term crime prevention.
RAC collaborates closely with three police forces: Police Scotland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Greater Manchester Police. This partnership facilitates the exchange of information, helping to tackle both local and cross-border criminal activity.
Additionally, RAC works alongside retail crime partnerships across the UK, including the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships (NABCP).
The importance of RAC's work is underscored by the increasing levels of retail crime. The British Retail Consortium's crime survey reported a 22% rise in shop theft in 2023-24, with over 20 million incidents and a worrying surge in violence towards retail workers. Such statistics highlight the need for organisations like RAC, which provide essential support to retailers, helping them address these challenges and create safer environments for both staff and customers.
Alongside traditional crime prevention methods, RAC harnesses technology to enhance its efforts. By using platforms like SentrySIS, RAC can monitor recidivist offenders and organised crime groups more effectively, providing real-time intelligence to its members. This technological approach ensures retailers are better equipped to respond to the evolving nature of retail crime.
In summary, Retailers Against Crime plays a vital role in protecting the retail sector across the UK. Through intelligence sharing, specialist training, community education, and strategic partnerships with law enforcement, RAC addresses the complex challenges of retail crime, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for businesses, employees, and customers alike.
To find out more about RAC, please visit their website by clicking here and to find out more about the NABCP, click here.