Value giant Poundland invests in technology as it ‘cracks down on in-store crime’

The value retail giant said part of the investment will go to supporting its 800-plus strong store estate, ensuring it’s “equipped with anti-theft innovation to deter shoplifting” and with “communication headsets to allow its people to communicate quickly when incidents occur and take action swiftly and safely”. 

It also said it would give its contracted security teams “the backing to detain suspected offenders in stores”, in turn “ensuring local police pursue prosecution for every incident of retail crime”. 

Poundland said it would also be “employing significantly more undercover guards in its stores” in order 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 also said it would be rolling out body cameras to scores of stores with “significant crime issues” following a successful trial of the technology. 

Poundland’s head of loss prevention Christina Jesty said the new steps were being taken as the retailer had long been the target of theft and abuse. 

”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.

“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.”