About the Raid-control initiative

Raid-control is a new crime prevention initiative that aims to raise security standards in retail premises, thereby reducing the potential for commercial robbery and create a safer working environment.

The campaign has created national guidelines, and encourages retailers to adopt these as an integral part of running their business.

Raid-control chairman Digby Ram explained: "Larger organisations have the facilities, knowledge and personnel to put an appropriate security policy in place. Independent retailers don't have these facilities, so we have developed a formula for them that makes use of the knowledge acquired from banks, post offices and retail chains, combining the types of techniques and PR campaigns known to deter robbers."

Under the scheme, retailers receive guidance from crime prevention officers and also certification, provided they achieve the required standards in the following elements:

Image capture systems (cameras)

Time lock/delay systems

Indelible note-staining

Cash minimisation

Robbery awareness training

Digby Ram stressed: "We know that the formula must be complete to get the desired results - it's no good doing one thing, and not the other. This is a dramatic, comprehensive solution."