The National Retail Association (NRA), soon to merge with the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) to become the Australian Retail Council, has formed a strategic partnership with global leader in retail crime intelligence, Auror, to work together to improve the safety of retail workers and address violence in retail crime across Australia.

The strategic partnership will continue to surface the serious nature of retail crime, helping policymakers and the public to better understand the scale, severity of this issue, and the technology-based solutions required to address this pressing issue impacting our society.

NRA Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said the partnership will advance efforts to deliver on key policy priorities to collaborate on community outcomes.

“We both share a goal in supporting retailers to stop crime in their stores and create safer environments for the 1.6 million Australian frontline retail workers,” she said.

“Retailers and police are collaborating through Auror technology to surface the full scale of this problem, and dedicated police operations across the country can now address retail crime head-on.

“Police resources are stretched across the country; high volume crime like retail crime adds to the load, but there are ways to increase efficiency and capability through tech-based solutions.

Growing threat

Crime in retail has become more brazen, violent, and organised across the country. Last year, Australian retailers using Auror recorded a 66% increase in the use of weapons and a 30% spike in violence.

Auror Senior Director Trust and Safety Nick McDonnell said the partnership will allow Auror to better represent retailers and the rising violence and crime issues they’re facing, highlighting the size and the scope of the problem workers around the country are grappling with.

“We know 10% of offenders are responsible for more than 60% of the total crime in retail – these are repeat offenders that are putting retail workers in harm’s way. Meanwhile, violence, threats, aggression, abuse and even weapons are involved in every one in four events,” he said.

“Our renewed mission – to reduce violent retail crime by 50% in the next five years – is a call to action for our retailer and law enforcement communities. This partnership with the NRA is crucial in advancing that mission, helping drive the conversation around stronger and effective collaboration across the sector.

Globally, Auror is used by more than 3000 law enforcement agencies and more than 45,000 retail stores across Australia, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom.

“There’s no substitute for the hands-on, incredible work police do to keep us safe,” Mr McDonnell said. “Through technology-enabled collaboration, we can help police be more efficient, getting more officers back on the beat and focused on repeat and high-harm offenders.”