2008 Security Team of the Year
An exemplary team of control room staff, a specialist Retail Crime Unit and mall officers from Europe Support Services work alongside Northumbria Police and other organisations to ensure that the MetroCentre in Gateshead is one of the safest places to shop in the UK.
The whole team receives intensive training, including health & safety, customer service, diversity and forensic awareness, surveillance, first aid and defibrillator use.
The ‘plain clothes' Retail Crime Unit works closely with police and retailers and has achieved a 50 per cent reduction in retail crime while maintaining a 95 per cent detection rate. Last year saw 383 arrests, 135 civil recovery claims and the recovery of £52,373 of stolen property.
Northumbria Police Inspector Paul Bentley said: "There's no doubt that our partnership with Europa at the MetroCentre has resulted in huge reductions in crime in all categories. Partnerships like this are the way forward for shopping centres."
