Upskilling critical for keeping watch over State’s largest retailers
A huge demand for security services across the retail sector is one of the unexpected results of COVID-19 in the past 12 months. It is now nearly a year since customers started rushing to supermarkets and panic bought food and other basics – a behaviour partly repeated during the recent lockdown in Perth this month. More than ever before, the consumer response to COVID-19 has highlighted how important it is to make sure there are robust security strategies in place at retail outlets supported by highly trained security guards.
Custom training for retail sector
To ensure our security staff are equipped with the skills and procedures needed to deal with both unique events and daily activity, NPB Security has designed a new course specifically for our personnel at shopping centres and other retailers.
Rolled out from the start of 2021 and available to all NPB’s security guards, the custom learning delivers both theory and practical training. Our personnel learn and experience potential incidents that they may face on shift which are specific and unique to the retail sector. The course examines a number of issues that may result in security incidents, such as mental health, homelessness, drug and alcohol, as well as legalities and regulations in the retail industry. Other topics covered include the effective use of CCTV and procedures to minimise theft.
NPB Security protects a number of shopping centres in Perth and some of the country’s most recognised retail brands including Woolworths, BWS, Dan Murphy’s and Rebel Sport. As COVID-19 has demonstrated, security needs are always evolving so upskilling is always a priority to ensure a better customer experience for people who are simply wanting to do their shopping in peace and safety.
How security protects retailers
A focus for our security guards is to protect the staff of shopping centres and individual retailers, along with their customers. NPB Security is able to provide expert assistance on a variety of issues shopping centres and retailers face on a daily basis.
One major challenge is shoplifting and theft. Not only does result in lost revenue for businesses, but it poses a real safety threat to retail workers who face the risk of confrontation and aggression if they intervene. Security guards are trained to step forward and take the necessary action to resolve difficult or dangerous situations where people attempting theft will reach unpredictably. A security presence can also act as a deterrence making one retailer less likely to experience theft than another store without guards. Guards are also trained to alert and work closely with police.
Security personnel are able to respond immediately during a crisis or emergency situation. For example, all our security guards have first aid training which could save someone’s life. If there is a medical or other emergency, for example a fire, that occurs at a supermarket, retail security is able to safely control the consequences of the aftermath, monitor emergencies and provide instructions and guidance to assist and calm staff and customers.
Retail is a unique security environment that demands specialist skills, so security guards that have undertaken a course specifically for retail patrols delivers a huge operational and financial benefit. Security guards with this training are equipped with extra skills and knowledge to ensure the safety of the staff, customers and protection of assets in any situation, from COVID-19 to day-to-day events.