Understanding Retail Security
Cardinal Security provides security solutions to a number of national retail and leisure chains as well as independent stores. Staff are highly trained to deal with the unique demands of this environment. Cardinal works with its clients to promote a safe and secure customer environment thus promoting and encouraging sales, while protecting profit from loss and shrinkage.

Cardinal offers a wide range of services, including the following:
 
  • Uniformed security officers
  • Store Detectives
  • CCTV monitoring
  • Covert Operations
  • Support  - e.g. sickness and seasonal demands
  • Test purchasing

    • Cardinal staff have experience in all areas of retail security. Uniformed Cardinal Officers are deployed as a highly visual deterrent to shoplifting and stock-loss, whilst some retail clients opt for more discreet security strategies with Cardinal store detectives.
     
    The company supplies security officers to a number of leading retailers country wide and has fostered a highly flexible approach to its security solutions. Cardinal is able to provide a complete security solution or simply supplement in-house resources, either permanently or on a temporary basis (e.g. holiday or seasonal cover).
     
    Cardinal is committed to high levels of training for its staff. On site training centres are used to ensure best practice is shared effectively and all officers receive an in-depth induction before being placed within a store. Staff are given a thorough understanding of the legal complexities faced in the retail and leisure environments. Training covers specialist areas such as the writing of prosecution statements and incident reports as well as the performance of till-checks and staff searches. Front line staff are also trained in customer care and place a great emphasis on always being courteous and helpful.
     
    Cardinal has made significant investment into its IT systems. Over the past 18 months it has developed a proprietary Retail Incident System. The retail database is a real time incident reporting system which enables officers to log incidents in real time using PDAs whilst in the field. Incidents are arbitrated within the control room and actioned accordingly. The database is used to track and monitor performance of front line officers as well as to analyse activity down to the department level. Moreover, offenders are recorded within the database and can be shared among sites supported by Cardinal to reduce the threat from persistent offenders.