Incident reporting for retailers: why it’s important – and easy

Disc is helping drive down low-level crime and antisocial behaviour right across the UK.

Thousands of retailers participate in local Disc systems in more than 550 towns and city-centres across the UK, sharing awareness about local crime, safety and security issues and information about local offenders and exclusion schemes.

Research tells us that small, independent stores tend to report more than larger retailers; to a small outlet even a £50 theft can have a big impact, sometimes being the difference between making a profit or a loss that day.

By contrast many larger retailers report less than 5 per cent of incidents to police. For them a £50 single loss is very different, and they may feel that process of reporting costs more than the loss itself. Lengthy delays on the 101 police non-emergency helpline and the belief that police won’t always follow up such reports adds to their apathy.

However, for Business Crime Reduction Schemes to perform optimally, it’s important for all stores to be totally engaged and to report ALL incidents. Only that way will police be properly aware of the real issues, and make resource allocation decisions accordingly.

This is where Disc comes in. Reporting Incidents on Disc is quick – it takes just a couple of minutes – and it’s incredibly easy to do. Contact, store and location details are auto-populated, saving time and increasing accuracy. Information is shared efficiently, with photo galleries, news, alerts, and Instant Messages all invaluable tools for staff, managers and low-prevention (LP) specialists.

Disc helps retailers work better and closer with the police, by self-managing low-level crime so police don’t need to – but also by identifying prolific offenders, enabling the police to focus their limited resources on pursuing them through the criminal justice process.

And, as important as anything else, Disc is ‘compliant by design’:  all information is shared securely and in full compliance with Data Protection Law and GDPR.