Tesco has announced the launch of a significant new initiative aimed at combating the rising tide of retail crime across its supermarket network. From Monday, January 26, the retail giant will commence a 10-week trial of a sophisticated crime reporting platform called Auror in 40 selected stores.
A Response to Escalating Retail Crime
The move comes against a backdrop of sharply increasing retail offences. Official police data for England and Wales reveals that shoplifting offences reached 516,000 in the year ending December 2024. This represents the highest level recorded since current practices began in 2003 and marks a substantial 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
Beyond Theft: Violence and Abuse Against Staff
The problem extends far beyond simple theft. The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Crime Survey reports that incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers now exceed 2,000 occurrences daily. These alarming figures often stem from confrontations with thieves, creating dangerous environments for both staff and shoppers.
Tesco's trial specifically targets Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire stores, with the clear objective of improving colleague safety, reducing retail crime, and enhancing collaboration with police forces and the wider retail industry.
How the Auror Platform Works
The Auror platform represents a technological advancement in retail security. Already utilised by several supermarket chains and police forces, the system streamlines the reporting of security incidents for store colleagues. By making incident reporting more efficient and comprehensive, the platform helps identify repeat and dangerous offenders while providing valuable assistance to police investigations.
Industry Leadership and Collaboration
Rachel Bennett, Security Director at Tesco, emphasised the company's commitment to leading the industry response: "The investments we are making in improving safety across our store network will ensure that we not only lead the way in tackling the symptoms of retail crime, but drive collaboration right across the retail sector to deter would-be criminals."
An Auror spokesperson expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: "We're delighted to partner with Tesco to help build on the work they're doing to keep their stores safe, and address the issue of violent and organised retail crime."
This trial represents a proactive approach to a growing national problem, with Tesco positioning itself at the forefront of retail security innovation while addressing genuine concerns about workplace safety and community security.
