“Collaboration is the most effective weapon we have to combat recidivist, high-risk retail crime offending”. Having spent the last 10 years of his Police career focussing on retail crime including developing and implementing the NZ Police national retail crime strategy, Allied Security National Retail Security Manager Matt Murray knows a thing or two about collaboration.
When Matt took up this position in late 2023 with Allied Security, he brought a fresh perspective and knowledge that a security provider could develop and lead highly effective public/private sector collaborative-based strategies that are proven to reduce recidivist retail crime offending.
After introducing the strategy to Allied Security Retail Mall clients, processes were developed and implemented that identified the most recidivist retail crime offenders and other priority security related matters at each location.
Thorough developing collaborative relationships with localized and national agencies including Police, Council, Oranga Tamariki and private stakeholders, the Allied Security National Retail team has:
Reduced recidivist retail crime offending at multiple retail mall locations through targeting and early apprehension of high-risk, recidivist retail crime offenders.
Reduced impact from implementing collaborative based initiatives that addressed adverse effects from ‘driver of crime’ incidents at neighbouring high-risk locations.
Increased Active Armed Offender / Critical Risk Emergency scenario training that improved readiness for retailers and mall management teams from proactive training and targeted training partnerships.
Increased focus on data driven ‘high-risk’ offending locations and reduced retail related offending through collaborative based solutions with retailers and mall management teams.
Enhanced awareness and dissemination of industry updates through collaborative based initiatives that raised awareness of offending trends, prevention opportunities and governmental led initiatives to retailers and mall management teams.
Enhanced collaborative-based engagement with national and localised Police, Iwi, Māori Wardens and partner agencies that has led to increased public trust and confidence in security and improved security related outcomes.
The approach to retail security displayed by Allied Security is now resulting in multiple other providers trying to replicate these ever-evolving initiatives in an attempt to keep pace with these industry leading initiatives.