The Manchester branch of Debenhams has won a prestigious award at the British Security Industry Association’s spring conference.
The department store won the city centre crime prevention panel award.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan presented the Bill Lowe Memorial Award for Business Watch Co-ordinator of the Year to employees at the annual ceremony at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
The conference focused on a range of issues, including what security staff can do to prevent child sexual exploitation, with speeches from Detective Inspector Deborah Oakes and Damian Dallimore of Project Phoenix; counter-terrorism prevention, with notes from Dave Wells from the North West CTU; and Victoria Price of SelectaDNA, on the use of forensic marking products.
The event was opened by BSIA Chief Executive James Kelly, and The Shield Group Regional Director Paul King, who also chairs the Crime Prevention Panel.
Mr King said: “The Debenhams store’s partnership effort to help reduce retail crime within the store in support of Greater Manchester Police’s neighbourhood policing strategy, as well as helping staff internally, regards reducing the fear of crime, make the store worthy winner of this prestigious award.
“This is a great example of how the security team and the store staff collectively, under the guide of John Wild, played such a significant a part in helping deter crime.
“With the cost of retail crime up 36% on last year, it is important to hold up examples of best practice in the security industry so that other businesses can learn how to improve their security operations and reduce crime.”
