FWD relaunches crime awareness campaign with Met Police backing

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has relaunched a campaign to raise awareness of crime in cash and carry car parks with the support of the Metropolitan Police.

The trade body has published new leaflets and posters outlining actions retailers can take to keep their belongings safe.

“From our monitoring of these incidents, it’s clear that the vast majority of thefts came about because the retailer gave the criminals an opportunity that could easily have been avoided,” FWD’s David Visick said. “We’ve heard stories of a cash and carry customer leaving £5,000 in cash in plain view on the front seat of their van, and of someone leaving a trolley load of cigarettes and alcohol unattended beside their vehicle while they went back inside for another.”

“FWD has been working with the Metropolitan Police and the National Business Crime Centre to raise awareness of the potential for criminal activity on cash and carry car parks. These posters in the car parks and leaflets distributed at the reception desk are a reminder to customers to take some simple precautions to protect themselves and their purchases,” Visick added.

He noted that the risk of criminal activity on cash and carry car parks is low, with the incidents not showing any increase in the 10 years the FWD has been recording them.

The leaflets also remind retailers to report suspicious activity to depot staff. If they become a victim of crime, they should report it to both the wholesaler and the local police.

Darren Conway, of FWD’s security partner Lodge Service, said: “Crime can be stopped by collaboration between wholesalers, security providers, the police, and business crime reduction partnerships. Accurate and timely data and intelligence is the key, and that’s why it’s so important all incidents are reported.

“Predictive analytics can be used along with rapid deployment systems and officers to intercept criminals and ultimately prevent further offences being committed. The more secure a business is both inside and out, the more unattractive to a criminal it becomes.”