Major retailers across the country are stepping up efforts to reduce the growing number of violent incidents by working with police in a national initiative that aims to improve intelligence-sharing, enhance response approaches and press for stronger laws. The scale of the increase has been unprecedented. Some incidents have involved weapons including guns and machetes, putting frontline staff, many of whom are teenagers, directly in harm's way.
Retail thefts hit their highest level in 20 years last year, with more than 267,000 incidents officially recorded. However, the true number is likely higher. Auror, a provider of crime-tracking technology, reported as many as 800,000 suspected incidents across the country with Victoria seeing a particularly high number. The crimes have grown more violent and are often linked to organised networks, including those involved in the illicit tobacco trade. In response, retailers are not only calling on government for help but also investing in their own security upgrades.
The joint initiative includes supermarkets, shopping centres and petrol station networks working alongside police across New South Wales, Victoria and other states. The model is inspired by a successful New Zealand collaboration that led to a 34% drop in ram-raid offences within a year. The Australian initiative aims to mirror that impact through coordination at executive level, more thorough information sharing and stronger operational planning.
The collaboration goes beyond day-to-day operations. Retailers are also pushing for nationwide workplace protection orders. At present, these legal tools only exist in the ACT. They would ban known offenders from entering shopping areas. Western Australia and South Australia are considering similar legal measures, but progress is uneven. Retailers argue such orders significantly cut repeat offences and help keep staff safe.
Governments in Victoria, Queensland and NSW have acknowledged the rise in crime and have signalled openness to reform, but a consistent legal framework across the country is still lacking. Meanwhile, companies such as Woolworths, Coles and Bunnings are deploying body cameras for staff and offering conflict de-escalation training to thousands of employees. Still, without immediate and coordinated national action, many in the retail industry fear that criminals will continue to gain the upper hand.
