Among the major issues to consider is shop theft. According to the British Retail Consortium's Annual Retail Crime Survey 2006-2007, the value of goods stolen from shops is at a 10-year high, so shopping centre managers and owners are under pressure to ensure that their security solution not only works, but strikes the right balance for the current shopping environment.

Many of the threats, such as shoplifting, theft by staff, fraud, vandalism and violent crime against staff and customers, are harmful to individual retailers, but there are also security concerns regarding the communal areas of a shopping centre's grounds - the parking facilities, delivery areas and shared facilities, for example. Individual retailers and shopping centre managers alike are suffering losses from new forms of retail crime which are challenging their security strategies.

A recent survey by G4S Security Services (UK) revealed that 'grazers' - people eating and drinking consumables as they walk around stores which they do not subsequently pay for - cost retailers around £207m each year. Furthermore, the roll-out of self-service checkouts in some retail outlets across the UK has led to abuse from 'self-scanning scammers' - shoppers who fail to scan an item and then leave the store without paying.

An effective modern-day security strategy must be multi-faceted. Manned security in the form of security officers is a proven tool in the fight against crime, but should cover the whole of the supply chain, involving perimeter protection, loss prevention, staff training and covert security.

New technology also plays its part. Next-generation digital alarm technology like the SLIPstream system, which provides businesses with a fully integrated digital alarm solution across intruder, fire, video and critical alarms, as well as building management systems, is an effective high-tech way of combating shrinkage. Retail Crime Partnerships formed by local councils, police, retailers and shopping centre management companies are employing facial biometrics, in conjunction with CCTV, to identify and exclude known shoplifters, by using centralised security staff to monitor them as they move from shop to shop.

With a large concentration of consumers in an enclosed environment, retail outlets represent a potential target for terrorists, who will aim to strike fear into their victims, seeking maximum impact and media coverage. As security of the transport infrastructure, such as railway stations and airports, continues to improve, terrorists may look towards so-called 'soft targets' such as out-of-town shopping centres. Major retailers and shopping centres are working alongside the police and intelligence services to review both security levels and response plans in the event of an attack. It is vital that retailers have effective security plans established and that security provision creates a deterrent to would-be attackers.

An equally important change to the security climate of shopping centres has come about because of changes to the centres themselves. Shopping centres are no longer just a mass of retail outlets - they are increasingly hubs for various forms of leisure and entertainment, such as restaurants and cinemas. With this change of environment comes new security requirements - a security officer trained in looking out for shoplifters, for example, may not be equipped to cope adequately with a large crowd all trying to get into a cinema at once.

A recent incident at Fareham shopping centre highlights the challenges facing managers. A couple was asked to leave the shopping centre by one of the security officers after taking photographs of their grandchildren while they were doing their Christmas shopping. As one of the surprised shoppers said himself, there was understandably a need for caution in the current security climate, but the officer could have handled the situation a lot better.

This example highlights a further function of security provision in the modern-day shopping centre environment: security staff must be able to deal with the public well, and be able to provide a good level of customer service. They should add a positive influence and a friendly face to the shoppers' experience. It's up to shopping centre managers and owners to ensure they hire appropriate security staff to adequately protect the public and staff alike, while creating a positive impression.

l Douglas Greenwell is sales & marketing director at G4S Security Services (UK)

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