8 Free Tools Every Retailer Can Use to Cut Business Crime Risk
If you run a shop, café, salon or any other high street business, you’ll know keeping the doors open is about far more than selling great products with a smile. You’re juggling stock, staff, customers, and yes, risks.
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) research shows that “Theft, burglary and cybercrime are the most frequently reported crimes for small businesses.” (“Calling Time on Business Crime” policy report, FSB).
One risk that’s sharply on the rise is retail crime. In England and Wales, shoplifting rose 20% in the year to March 2025, with 530,643 recorded offences (ONS). The British Retail Consortium puts the total annual cost of retail theft at £2.2 billion (BRC).
For small businesses, a single incident can mean more than replacing stolen goods, it can mean staff absences, lost trading hours, shaken confidence, reputational damage, and even higher insurance premiums at renewal.
The good news? There’s a wealth of free, practical tools you can start using today, from official police guidance to ready-made staff training, to make your business less of a target, protect your people, and strengthen your insurance position.
If you’re an FSB member, you can also draw on FSB Insurance Service for tailored insurance guidance on risk management and making sure your cover reflects the security measures you’ve put in place.
The Insurance Impact of Retail Crime in the UK
Retail crime is more than a security concern, it’s reshaping insurers’ risk models and pricing for high street businesses.
Scale of the issue: The British Retail Consortium’s Crime Survey 2025 reveals that shoplifting alone cost retailers £2.2 billion in 2023–24. Add crime prevention costs (£1.8 billion), and the total financial burden of retail crime rose to £4.2 billion, a record high.
Insurance ramifications: Higher loss rates and the sheer volume of incidents drive up both the frequency and severity of claims. Insurers respond by raising premiums, increasing excesses, restricting coverage for certain goods, or requiring added security conditions (e.g., CCTV or staff training).
Organised crime adds pressure: The Federation of Small Businesses reports that organised shoplifting has become one of the most commonly reported crimes against small firms. This signals elevated risk and prompts underwriters to impose stricter terms on affected retailers.
Policy and legal shifts: Government initiatives, such as creating a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers and cracking down on repeat offenders, reflect the changing crime landscape. While these aim to enhance safety, insurers predominantly adjust prices based on claims experience, not legislation.
Prevalence across retail: According to the Commercial Victimisation Survey 2023, 41% of wholesale and retail premises experienced at least one crime in the past year. High victimisation rates translate into elevated underwriting risk.
Why prevention matters: Investing in risk reduction, like scenario training, improved lighting, or robust policies, can strengthen your insurer-facing position. Documenting these measures may help negotiate better terms or limit premium hikes.
1. Crimestoppers – Business Crime Prevention
Sometimes a team member sees something suspicious but isn’t comfortable speaking to police. Crimestoppers lets you report crime 100% anonymously, and has clear guidance on fraud prevention and premises security.
💡 Insurance tip: Demonstrating you take incidents seriously, by reporting them and acting on advice, can show insurers you’re a proactive, lower-risk business.
🔗 Crimestoppers Business and Retail Crime Prevention
2. Police.uk – Securing Your Shop from Shoplifters
An official checklist that helps you spot security gaps, from rearranging displays to deter theft, to improving CCTV placement.
💡 Insurance tip: Acting on recognised guidance reduces foreseeable risk, and some insurers have minimum security requirements that you must meet. Insurers take note, and some may offer better terms when you can show changes made.
3. NBCC – Reducing Violence Against Staff (PDF)
A plain-English guide from the National Business Crime Centre. Covers spotting warning signs early, managing your own body language, and keeping situations calm.
💡 Insurance tip: Prevention training can help reduce injury claims and demonstrate you’ve met your duty of care.
4. NBCC – Shopworker Safety Videos
Short, scenario-based videos perfect for team briefings or new starter inductions. They’re practical, easy to watch, and focused on real-world situations.
💡 Insurance tip: Keep a log of who’s watched them. Training records can be valuable if you need to defend against a claim.
5. BRC & Suzy Lamplugh Trust– De-Escalation Training
An animated video designed for busy shop staff. Quick to watch, easy to share, and focused on calming tense situations. Prevent a situation from becoming a confrontation.
💡 Insurance tip: Stopping an incident before it happens is always cheaper, and safer, than dealing with the fallout.
🔗 Access BRC & Suzy Lamplugh de-escalation training
6. ProtectUK – ACT Awareness e-Learning
Originally aimed at counter-terror awareness, this free online course builds staff observation skills, teaches how to spot suspicious behaviour, and guides emergency response. A certificate is issued on completion.
💡 Insurance tip: Certificates help to prove you’re investing in staff training, something some insurers look on favourably.
7. Police.uk – Local Crime Map
Shows up-to-date crime stats in your area. Useful for spotting patterns, planning staffing levels, and reviewing opening hours.
💡 Insurance tip: Crime stats can support discussions with insurers, whether that’s explaining a need for extra cover or showing low local risk.
8. ShopKind Campaign – Posters & Resources
A national campaign promoting respect towards shop staff. Free posters, social media graphics, and in-store materials help set the tone with customers.
💡 Insurance tip: A reduction in confrontations means fewer incidents, and that’s good news for your claims history.
Why this matters
The Commercial Victimisation Survey 2023 found 38% of wholesale and retail premises experienced crime last year (Home Office). For small business owners, these aren’t just numbers, they’re your staff, your customers, your community.
Prevention tools like these don’t just make day-to-day business safer, they also help you stay in a stronger position if you ever need to make an insurance claim.
FSB members can speak to FSB Insurance Service for tailored advice on the right cover for their sector, including how to present these prevention steps to insurers so they work in your favour.
Not yet a member? Find out more about FSB membership.