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Shopping centre managers are calling for more support from the police and local councils to address the growing problem of anti-social behaviour, according to a survey of managers at the UK’s leading shopping centres1. The research, conducted for G4S Security Services (UK), the UK’s leading security provider, reveals that one–in-five shopping centre managers would like more help improving safety and security in the area surrounding their shopping centre.
Of those shopping centre managers calling for more local support, almost three quarters want an increased police presence 72%. A further 14% would like police response times to improve, while the remainder want better implementation of CCTV systems in the area. The findings come as a national consumer survey2 found that the greatest concern for 57% or 21.6 million British adults while shopping was anti-social behaviour, ahead of 52% who feared violent attacks and just 23% who worry about terrorism. Consumer concerns when shopping Proportion of GB adults
Anti-social behaviour (e.g. verbal abuse) 57%
Violent attack (e.g. mugging) 52%
Pickpockets 47%
Losing a child in a shop or shopping centre 30%
Risk of a terrorist incident 23%
Other 1%
Source: G4S Security Services (UK) Douglas Greenwell, Sales & Marketing Director, G4S Security Services (UK) said, “This research shows that anti-social behaviour is a major challenge for retailers looking to attract customers. It’s clear that they need to continue to work closely with the police and local councils to limit these ‘petty crimes’ which continue to be a major nuisance to millions of people. If they don’t, then consumers will vote with their feet and shop elsewhere. “The presence of uniformed security officers is proven to reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour and enables shopping centre managers to balance concerns for consumer safety with the enjoyment of people shopping at their retail outlet.” Half of consumers believe that shopping centres would be safer if alcohol was banned from the premises (see table), while almost a third (31%) of adults support a ban on people wearing hooded tops in shops and shopping centres and 16% would like to see single sex groups of youths banned. However, shopping centre managers have already taken significant steps to address some of these consumer concerns: 74% have banned alcohol from the premises, 71% have banned smoking and 83% have banned skateboards and roller skates. Looking ahead, shopping centre managers are most in favour of banning hooded tops from their premises with a bar on ‘heelys’ and wearing offensive tee-shirts next on the list. G4S Security Services (UK) provides a range of security solutions to retailers and shopping centres across the UK.
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