In the period January to June 2002 there were 14 robberies at pharmacies in South London.  The robberies were violent in nature with knives used to threaten pharmacy staff.  The target was cash.  Police intelligence suggested there were as many as 30 individuals involved, in two or three gangs, co-ordinating their attacks across South London, a large geographical area.  Off-licences were also targeted by these groups and are a frequent target for crime in South London, but pharmacies had never before been targeted in such volume and in such an organised manner.

The response from the Police to this unexpected and frightening spate of robberies was to suggest the introduction of a series of measures to target harden premises, using the latest security technology and training in good practice procedures.  This approach was part of a fledgling crime reduction initiative called Raid-control.  As a result there have been no robberies at pharmacies in South London since the equipment was installed and pharmacists and their staff feel much safer.

So how did this initiative come about ….

Eight of the 14 pharmacy robberies were in Croydon Borough.  Croydon Crime Prevention Officer (CPO) Kevin Hitch was drafted in to advise pharmacists on how to protect their premises from more attacks.  Hitch comments: ‘The robberies had sent shock waves through the pharmaceutical community and indeed the wider community in Croydon because these are businesses that are often owned and staffed by local people.  My job was to find a cost-effective way of introducing security measures to premises that had very little protection in place because the only threat they had protected against previously was shoplifting.’

The secretary of Croydon Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) Andrew McCoig of ‘McCoig’ pharmacies was a focal point for the fears of pharmacy owners in Croydon who had either been victims of the robberies or were afraid of being next in line.  McCoig comments: ‘I was inundated with e-mails and phone calls.  We pharmacists weren’t used to dealing with this type of crime and so we were soft targets.  The use of threatening weapons as part of the robberies was particularly frightening for the individuals involved and led to a number of staff resigning, which creates its own problems.  Needless to say, we were in need of a solution – and quickly’.

Following visits to a number of the pharmacies that had been victims of robbery, Hitch determined that basic weaknesses in both security and procedures were common features.  Given that the target of the robberies was cash, Hitch believed that till protection equipment was a must.  He contacted the Metropolitan Police Service Flying Squad Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Alan Townsend and Digby Ram, director of IBP International Ltd and Chairman of the British Security Industry Association’s Cash and Property Marking Section.  Townsend and Ram had already been involved in the highly successful national initiative Banknote Watch, aimed at reducing the circulation of stolen banknotes, with the slogan ‘a stained note is probably a stolen note’.  They had already discussed the possibility of establishing an initiative specifically for the retail environment and the Croydon pharmacy robberies presented the ideal opportunity to put theory into practice.

Tackling the problem ….

Townsend and Ram devised a series of measures designed to combat the specific risks associated with retail crime – these measures are now known as Raid-control.  They include staff training in raid awareness, cash minimised, time delay systems, camera(s) in operation and stolen cash traceable (cash staining systems in use).  Finances from Communities Against Drugs (CAD) funds paid for the equipment and its installation, which cost under £2,000 per premises.

There are 68 pharmacies in Croydon Borough and 23 qualified for the CAD funding.  Of those 23, four could not be fitted with the Raid-control package because the tills were too close to the entrance to the premises; a distance of two metres is required in order for the cash staining systems to work, although the technology is now being adapted so that it can accommodate tills located next to entrances.  Throughout June 2002, 19 were fitted with Raid-control equipment and implemented the staff-training package.

Following completion a CPO visited each premises from Croydon Police to assess if they merited Raid-control status.  All 19 were successful and were presented with Raid-control window stickers to alert criminals to the security measures inside.  The window stickers play an important deterrent role.

To date, since Raid-control was introduced to the Croydon pharmacies there have been no more robberies.

What has been the reaction to Raid-control ….

The Pharmacist

Beran Patel, owner/pharmacist at ‘Brigstock’ pharmacy in Croydon was the victim of a robbery in January 2002: ‘I was in the premises with one other member of staff when we were robbed.  There were four of them and they all had knives.  A knife was thrust in my face so of course I offered no resistance.  As it was shortly after Christmas we had a lot of money in the till and out in the back room including pay packets; they took a substantial amount of money.

‘I have experienced some staffing problems since the robbery because people were understandably frightened.  When I learned about the security measures they intended to install in the premises I was very encouraged.  In fact I was quite surprised because I didn’t really expect such a swift and pragmatic response from the Police as they have a lot of crime to contend with in South London.

‘The equipment itself has brought peace of mind to me and to my staff and the training has addressed the type of complacency about crime that arises when you haven’t been targeted before.  For example, we keep a substantially smaller amount of cash on the premises now.  The training package was provided on a CD Rom, which was a good way of presenting the information.

‘I would certainly recommend Raid-control.  Everyone should have it.  Even if the funding hadn’t been available I would have invested in these measures because they really address the specific problems retailers face.’

The Secretary of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee

Andrew McCoig, secretary of the LPC and owner of two ‘McCoig’ pharmacies in Croydon fitted with Raid-control comments: ‘One of my premises was a victim of the spate of robberies.  In addition, in my role as secretary of the LPC, I was responsible for the concerns of all the other pharmacists in the area.  When I met Kevin Hitch I have to admit I didn’t expect much from him.  I certainly didn’t expect the dedicated approach he took to solving our problem and the innovative solution he proposed.

‘Raid-control is an exciting approach to reducing crime; it worked for us and I can see it working for pharmacies in other parts of the country and in other retail premises.  Before experiencing the effectiveness of the security equipment in the Raid-control package I was suspicious of the security industry and felt that the equipment it tried to sell to me was not suited to the crime problems I faced.  As a result, I only had a burglar alarm with panic button installed in my premises.

 
‘In contrast, Raid-control security equipment is tailored to the specific problems we face in small retail outlets, namely protection of cash.  It’s also cost-effective, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.’

The Crime Prevention Officer

Having managed the initiative in Croydon, Kevin Hitch - the CPO tasked with assessing the pharmacies to Raid-control standards - is in a unique position to evaluate the impact of the scheme: ‘The package of measures Alan Townsend and Digby Ram proposed – now known as Raid-control  – has had a significant impact in Croydon.  The response from the pharmacists has been very positive and a number of additional outlets have now purchased Raid-control equipment independently because they are so impressed with it.’

‘From a CPO’s point of view this is an easy-to-use retail crime reduction package.  Something we’ve not had at our disposal before.  It’s nice to be able to offer a proactive solution and the community really appreciate Police involvement in this way.  It’s easy to think of business crime as only affecting the business itself, but that business is often run by local people for local people, so it actually affects the whole community.

‘The package itself comprises a site survey questionnaire tailored to the retail environment, an equipment toolkit and a retailer self-training programme to ensure that CPOs don’t have to spend too long in each premises.  So having recommended a premises for Raid-control all the CPO has to do is visit it once after installation and training is complete to assess if it meets the required level of security to be awarded Raid-control status.

‘Once Raid-control status is awarded, the premises can display the Raid-control window sticker and other deterrent material to alert criminals to the security measures inside.  This will become a powerful deterrent when the Raid-control brand becomes more widely known.

‘I hope that this pilot project in Croydon is the launch pad for a national Raid-control initiative because this is the sort of proactive policing that benefits everyone concerned, except the criminals of course!’

DCI Mark Stafford is the Proactive Team Manager at Croydon Police and is responsible for the work of the CPOs on the Raid-control project: ‘One of our key priorities in the Metropolitan Police Service and in Croydon Borough is the reduction of robbery offences using both proactive policing and a problem solving approach.  The intention is to deliver long-term sustained reduction and prevention.  Target hardening, coupled with reduced pay-off and increased chance of detection, assists this strategy.

‘As street crime comes under increased pressure from active policing the tendency may be for the criminals to turn to what is perceived to be a soft-target.  So any initiative that makes such premises less attractive to would-be-thieves is welcomed.

‘Raid-control is good use of a CPO’s time and the local storekeepers now feel supported.  I would recommend Raid-control to other Boroughs in the Metropolitan Police and beyond.’

Conclusions ….

In response to a violent spate of robberies at pharmacies in South London a new initiative to combat retail crime has been successfully piloted.  Raid-control involves the implementation of a package of measures tailored to the specific needs of small retailers.

Those involved in the initiative: the pharmacists, the Local Pharmaceutical Committee, the Crime Prevention Officer and the Team Manager at Croydon Police all recommend that Raid-control is extended to other pharmacies and indeed to other small retailers.

Croydon Police Study 2

At the start of 2002 there was a rise in violent robberies against pharmacies in South London.  The robberies were violent in nature, with knives used to threaten pharmacy staff.  The target was cash.  The response to this unexpected and frightening spate of robberies was the formation of a partnership between the police and the security industry, recommending the introduction of a series of measures to target-harden premises.  These included staff training in raid awareness, time delay systems, cash minimised, cameras in operation and stolen cash traceable.  A year after installation, none of the pharmacies protected by this package of crime prevention measures had been victims of robbery.  This approach was part of a fledgling crime reduction initiative called Raid-control.

Background ….

Following the success of installing Raid-control in pharmacies, the Croydon pilot was extended to convenience stores at the beginning of 2003.  Thirteen convenience stores were identified that had been repeat robbery victims and Raid-control equipment was installed during the period January-March 2003.

Funding was obtained from the Government of London’s allocation of the Capital Modernisation Fund, aimed specifically at assisting smaller retailers in deprived areas.  Announcing the funding in 2002, the Government said ‘local shops are at the heart of our communities’ and stressed the importance of providing help ‘to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour that blights shops in some of our most impoverished communities.’

Results ….

A year later, there has only been one robbery in the thirteen convenience stores – a remarkable outcome given that all had been repeat robbery victims before Raid-control was installed.

Two attempted robberies also took place during this period, but a combination of the equipment and the staff training did its job in deterring the perpetrators.  On one of these occasions the Raid-control signage was yet to be erected as the equipment had only just been installed: the signage being an important deterrent factor in entering a premises in the first instance.  On the other occasion, CCTV footage of the attempted robbery was used to identify the culprits.

Retailers’ reaction ….

Bhamini Patel has owned her convenience store for nine years.  She has two part time staff and has spent some time going through the staff awareness package with both of them.  Mrs Patel comments: ‘I would definitely recommend this system.  I find the CCTV camera and the safe easy to use, which is very important when you are busy.  I’ve read about lots of robberies all over the country that have affected retailers.  There are some horrible stories.  I would recommend Raid-control for other places like Birmingham where I expect they have similar problems.  I’m so glad I have it.’

John Hussey’s convenience store was a target of robbery last year. He says: ‘I was a victim of crime last year following a robbery to our store.  We were contacted by a Crime Prevention Officer and Raid-control was recommended to us.  It has certainly made us feel more safe and secure and acts as a real deterrent to robbers.’

Police reaction ….

Jon Smith has been working on the Raid-control project for about six months.  He wasn’t involved in the initial installation of the equipment, but has since overseen installation in two additional premises in November 2003.  He is now in the process of identifying additional convenience stores where the package of security measures and training could help to reduce robberies.

Jon comments: ‘Raid-control is working.  It’s bringing peace of mind to retailers that have previously been subjected to some pretty terrifying ordeals.  The funding is central to getting the initiative off the ground because small retailers can’t afford to invest in these types of solutions, however much they need them.

‘This is the sort of work that crime prevention officers should be doing.  It’s a good way to engage with the community: to offer practical solutions.  It’s also a good way of keeping abreast of changes in technology and best practice.

‘I think Raid-control has definitely got the potential to be successful elsewhere.’

Janet Kearns is the Crime Manager for the London Borough of Croydon.  Her first-hand experience of Raid-control has been very positive:

‘I’m acutely aware of the impact that robberies on small convenience stores can have, not only on the shops themselves but also on the local community that they serve.  The extended hours that these premises stay open make them particularly vulnerable.

‘However, the installation of Raid-control in shops that suffered previous robberies has proved hugely successful, with no repetition of offences.  The deterrent effect has been significant, but also, where two attempts were made, the culprits were either disrupted or identified quickly.

‘This is a Crime Prevention Initiative that really does work.  The incidence of violent robberies has dramatically reduced and the shopkeepers and staff feel safer in the knowledge that with Raid-control installed they are less likely to be victimised.  Following the previous success where pharmacies were equipped with Raid-control, this latest phase of the initiative confirms its value in crime reduction and prevention.’

Constructive feedback ….

One issue that emerged during the convenience store pilot has led to a rethink on the way the training material is presented in multi-cultural areas.  Whilst the majority of retailers understand spoken English, written English can be problematic – especially for older generations.  Consequently, the Raid-control Advisory Group has recommended that all material be made available in a number of different languages.

Conclusions ….

Having proved itself to be a workable and successful crime prevention tool in the pharmacies pilot, Raid-control has proved to be equally effective in the convenience store environment.  Installed in thirteen stores for a year, the combination of the training awareness package and the security equipment has resulted in only one robbery taking place.  Two attempted robberies were thwarted.

Raid-control has continued to receive positive feedback from all those involved.  The Crime Prevention Officers find it easy to implement and a good way to engage with the community, but most importantly the retailers welcome the initiative and feel ‘safer’.