New research commissioned by NFU Mutual shows that nine out of ten rural retailers have suffered from significant crime in the past 12 months, prompting the rural insurer to issue a warning for owners to take preventative measures to try and deter the thieves.
A survey of more than 600 rural business owners found that crime had cost them an average of £83,490 during the past year, with one in 20 saying it had set them back more than half a million pounds. Almost a quarter of those to have suffered from retail crime said they had been hit more than six times.
The research, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of NFU Mutual, also found:
- A quarter of those surveyed who had suffered a crime said a member of staff had been physically assaulted.
- One in ten said an incident had involved a weapon.
- Just shy of half (46%) said staff had received verbal abuse.
- Almost a third of those surveyed had goods or cash stolen by an employee.
“We urge the government to create a cross-departmental rural crime task force and adopt stronger legislation to tackle theft and other crimes in rural areas.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
In response to the new figures, NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said: “This latest report on rural crime is a sad reminder of just how vulnerable farming families and businesses are.
“Behind every statistic is a farmer feeling increasingly unsupported as rural crime continues to rise. On top of significant financial losses from the theft of essential farm equipment, there’s also the damage caused to local businesses to contend with, such as farm shops.”
Stronger legislation needed
“The NFU has long called for dedicated rural crime teams in every police force and fair funding for rural policing,” Robyn continued.
“We also urge the government to create a cross-departmental rural crime task force and adopt stronger legislation to tackle theft and other crimes in rural areas,” she added.
“The government must recognise the severe impact of crime on rural communities and act now to ensure those who live and work in our rural areas are given the protection and support they need.”
Ongoing security battles
NFU Mutual heard how retailers were resorting to spending thousands of pounds in the security battle against criminals targeting rural areas. Around one in five had spent £20,000-plus to improve security in the past year and a similar proportion said they now had full-time, physical security on their doors.
The most common security measures put in place included CCTV, warning signs and security tagging items.
“We know first-hand the pain and disruption criminals cause our rural communities and retailers with these callous acts,” said the insurer’s Zoe Knight.
“Farm shops are often family-run operations and embedded into the local communities. They have sadly been targeted in the past – and continue to be so – due to their remote locations, so it is vital that owners take all necessary and appropriative preventative steps.
“Our research shows these businesses are making huge efforts, both physically and financially, to feel protected from crime, and we will continue to work closely with our risk management specialists to try and reduce the threat of other shops becoming victims.
“Small steps like limiting the number of high-value items on display, securing stock in a secure area, minimising cash takings, and adding mirrors to the store to reduce blind spots can all help. Ensuring you have good quality locks, alarms, CCTV, shutters and bars on the doors can also help in the fight against break-ins.”
NFU members are entitled to a range of discounts to help deter criminals, including up to 25% off Datatag asset marking and 30% on Reolink's surveillance technology.
Find out about more safety and security member rewards.
Advice for retailers
NFU Mutual's Risk Management Service has issued the following advice for retailers to protect against shoplifting and break-ins:
- Use customer service as a tool to deter thieves – greeting them lets them know they have been acknowledged and may deter them as they have been identified.
- Make sure store layouts are organised and tidy, placing items that are high-value or which are more desirable to thieves in monitorable areas. Consider adding mirrors to the store to reduce blind spots.
- If possible, limit the number of high value items on display and secure remaining stock within a robust, lockable area.
- Train staff to recognise shoplifting tactics and ensure they know how to keep themselves safe from the risk of violence.
- Consider displaying signage in-store notifying thieves that they will be prosecuted.
- Try to minimise cash takings and use counter caches to deposit cash during opening hours. Install a good quality compliant safe which is fixed in place and preferably kept in an alarm protected area.
- Ensure all doors and windows have good quality locks (to BS3621) which cannot be opened from the outside or from the inside without the use of a key.
- Always keep keys to doors, windows, and safes, in a secure location. Always remove them from your premises outside of business hours and limit their distribution among managers or staff.
- Consider investing in good shutters, grilles and bars on doors and windows.
- If investing in an intruder alarm, ensure it is installed by an NSI or SSAIB approved company, compliant to EN1350-1 and provides remote signalling to an alarm receiving centre.
- If investing in surveillance (CCTV) ensure it provides good quality images, is recorded to the cloud with links to mobiles and/or remote monitoring, and meets requirements of GDPR.
- Be aware of cyber threats and make sure you have cyber insurance in place should the worst happen.
- Consider hiring data protection specialists to provide ongoing security of your data.
- Have a robust policy in place for responding to intruder alarm activations – i.e. don't let a keyholder turn up on their own.
Find out more about NFU Mutual’s information for retailers.
