With retail theft in the UK reaching epidemic proportions, Poundland is taking strident action. The major value retailer, which retails parent company Pepco Group’s Pep & Co clothing, is making its “largest-ever investment” into anti-theft technology and security “strengthening its zero-tolerance policy against theft and anti-social behaviour in stores”.

Its ‘Against Retail Crime’ initiative launches this week as part of its ongoing efforts “to address increasing shop theft, as well as abuse and harassment of its colleagues”.

Part of the investment will support its 800+ store estate as it’s equipped with anti-theft innovation to deter shoplifting. This includes communication headsets “to allow its people to communicate quickly when incidents occur and take action swiftly and safely”.

It is also giving its contracted security teams “the backing to detain suspected offenders in stores, and ensuring local police pursue prosecution for every incident of retail crime”.

Poundland said it is working in close collaboration with local enforcement agencies and police forces, including support from undercover officers and sharing CCTV to aid prosecution and “to send a clear message to thieves targeting its stores – they will be caught, they will be reported and they will be prosecuted”.

The retailer is also now rolling out Motorola Solutions VT100 body cameras to scores of stores with the most significant crime issues, following a successful trial across its estate, it noted, adding that over 300 stores now have this technology available.

It said the cameras have already driven an 11% decrease in violence against its colleagues, alongside a marked reduction in shoplifting and theft.

Poundland’s head of loss prevention, Christina Jesty, said: “The rate of store theft and colleague abuse has accelerated significantly across our stores in the last 18 months, and this has been very challenging for our people.

“Whether it’s store theft undermining all our colleagues’ hard work, or incidents of violence and abuse making our colleagues feel unsafe at work, something must change.”

She added: “At Poundland we pride ourselves on being a value-led high street retailer, where protecting our colleagues goes hand in hand with protecting our prices. That is why we’re saying ‘enough is enough’ and beginning a campaign to support our front-line teams and crack down on retail crime across our stores.”