Press Releases

Metrocentre’s crime team has been acknowledged in a pair of national awards, recognising the Centre as one of the safest places in Britain to shop.

The SCEPTRE Awards, acknowledging best practice and the best people in the shopping centre industry, are the pre-eminent accolades in the shopping centre world. Metrocentre’s security team was presented with the prize for ‘Security Team of the Year’ at a recent ceremony – the first time the award has ever been presented.

This was swiftly followed by the ‘Safer Business Award’ (SBA). The ‘Safer Business Award’ is the national standard for business crime reduction partnerships and awarded by Action Against Business Crime (AABC). The prize was awarded to the security team at a presentation recently in recognition of the management and operation of their crime reduction partnerships.

A host of organisations work together to ensure Metrocentre is one of the safest places to shop. The team comprises; Northumbria Police, Europa Support Services Control Room, Metrocentre’s Retail Crime Unit and mall officers, all working together for the security of shoppers and staff alike.

Metrocentre’s security achievements also include the Safer Shopping Award in partnership with Metrocentre retailers for their collaborative work; the Business in the Community ‘Big Tick’ for Power in Partnership and the Centre’s success in achieving a 95% reduction in auto-crime was presented as best practice to the European Union Crime Prevention Network in Rome.

Intensive training for staff includes diversity and forensic awareness, surveillance, first-aid and defibrillator use, health and safety and customer service.

The ‘plain clothed’ Retail Crime Unit works with police and retailers, providing crime prevention training and has achieved a 50% reduction in retail crime while maintaining a 95% detection rate. In 2007 they were involved in 383 arrests, 135 civil recovery claims and recovered £52,373 in stolen property.

The team works closely with the North East Retail Crime Partnership sharing criminal intelligence with retailers.

In addition the Centre has achieved a month on month reduction in all categories of crime for the past 15 months.

Metrocentre’s Police Inspector Paul Bentley commented: ‘There’s no doubt that our partnership with Metrocentre security has resulted in huge reductions in crime in all areas. Partnerships like this are the way forward for shopping centres and these awards are a tremendous achievement for all.’

Terry Atkinson, Services Manager (Security) for Europa said: ‘I’m delighted to have received these awards on behalf of all the people who have worked hard to make this partnership work. Metrocentre is already a safe and secure environment in which to shop, however, one crime is one too many and our aim is to reduce it even further. We will continue to make Metrocentre secure for everyone who visits. For the team to be acknowledged as ‘the best’ in this field by such experts is about as good as it gets.’

David Shapiro, WH Smith Manager (and chairman of Metrocentre’s Tenants’ Association) comments: ‘Security is excellent, creating a safe environment and favourable trading conditions. Many retailers have reported best-in-class stock losses.’