Violence in licensed and retail premises - Visibility and lighting
Ensuring good visibility throughout your premises, including the exterior, helps you to monitor and deter aggressive behaviour and helps your staff and customers feel safer. It can also contribute to the quality of your CCTV images.
Visibility
- Window displays and fittings would allow good visibility of the shop interior from the street. This discourages shoplifting and robbery as troublemakers are more likely to be observed from the street.
- Wider aisles and lower shelving would make a thief more observable and hinder their ability to easily escape.
- Think about visibility when positioning outdoor seating areas.
- Ensure entrances to premises are clearly visible.
- Use mirrors to help you see awkward areas.
- Design your premises to maximise natural surveillance.
- Natural surveillance is when your premises are watched or overlooked by people going about their normal business. For example, if your premises are on a fairly busy street or near a crossing, it can help deter crime and disorder due to the risk of being observed.
Lighting
- Ensure entrances/exits, car parks and reception areas are well lit.
- In licensed premises, especially, lighting can influence the mood of your customers.
- Strike the right balance between ambience and being able to see adequately.
- Can you control your light levels?
- Is there suitable lighting for use outside trading hours?
