Many businesses lock their buildings each night believing that their security arrangements will protect them. Cameras, alarms and uniformed officers offer a sense of reassurance, but reassurance is not the same as effective protection. Many businesses invest in security that appears reliable but does not perform when a real incident occurs.
At Rivo Security and Monitoring, we see this problem frequently. Companies contact us only after an incident because they discover too late that their arrangements were not strong enough. The issue is often the design of the overall system rather than any individual component. It may be incomplete, poorly planned or not suited to the environment in which it operates.
This is not deliberate misguidance. It is a common weakness across parts of the security industry and often goes unnoticed until a significant loss exposes it.
Recent national figures highlight the scale of the challenge:
- The British Retail Consortium reports that losses from customer theft reached £2.2 billion in 2023 and 2024 (source).
- The ONS Commercial Victimisation Survey found that 26% of business premises in England and Wales experienced crime in the most recent reporting period (source).
Separate research cited by the Federation of Small Businesses indicates that UK businesses may be losing around £12.9 billion a year to burglary and theft. This figure is an estimate based on survey data and is widely referenced across the sector.
These figures show a clear trend: many organisations believed their security was effective, yet it did not protect them when required.
Where UK business security commonly fails
Security failures rarely occur overnight. They develop when systems are selected on cost rather than risk, when officers are deployed without appropriate training and when duties lack structure or supervision. Technology is often installed without the operational capability needed to understand or respond to alerts.
Cameras may record and alarms may signal, but without coordinated human action neither prevents loss.
Criminals recognise these weaknesses long before businesses do. They observe routines, test boundaries and identify gaps. As one senior Rivo Security and Monitoring manager explains:
“When we review failed security setups, the issue is rarely the guard. It is the system around them. Without planning, supervision and integration, any officer is left exposed.”
By the time an incident occurs, the underlying failure has usually existed for some time.
The cost of false confidence
Many incidents begin with confidence in a system that later proves inadequate. Once a breach occurs, the financial impact becomes immediate: theft, damage to buildings, delays to operations, higher insurance premiums, reputational harm and reduced staff confidence.
During the same period, retailers invested an additional £1.8 billion in prevention measures, according to the British Retail Consortium (source). The lesson is clear: recovering from crime is far more expensive than preventing it.
A scenario repeated across the country
Imagine a typical morning at a commercial site. An officer is present, staff begin to arrive and everything seems routine. A small group of organised offenders enters knowing the officer’s movements and the site’s weak points. They act quickly and leave before anyone reacts. The CCTV footage is clear, but clarity is not protection.
This scenario is one we hear frequently. The guard may have been present, but the protection was not effective.
What effective protection requires
Effective security is not defined by a single officer on site. It is built on structure, planning and support. A strong approach should include:
- Professionally trained SIA licensed officers selected for the environment
- Structured and visible patrols
- Clear duties and reporting processes
- Continuous supervision and accountability
- Integrated monitoring and rapid response
- Accurate reporting to support insurance and operational decisions
A supported officer does more than observe. They identify risks early, intervene when required and help maintain order. In many cases the cost of a single major incident exceeds the investment required for a complete security strategy.
Why higher standards are needed
Business risk in the UK is evolving. Criminal groups are more organised, operations are more complex and technology continues to advance. Expectations from insurers, regulators and stakeholders are rising.
Standards such as ACS, BS 7499 for static guarding and BS 7858 for screening are becoming central expectations rather than optional additions. Organisations that do not modernise their security approach risk falling behind operational needs and regulatory requirements.
A more secure path forward
As crime continues to rise, many organisations are discovering only after an incident that their security measures were not adequate. At Rivo Security and Monitoring, our purpose is to prevent this outcome.
We design, supply, install and maintain security and fire detection systems across commercial, retail and industrial environments. As technology evolves, we continue to adopt solutions that provide strong and future ready protection.
Our manned security service follows clear standards for training and screening, supported by structured oversight. What sets Rivo Security apart is our ability to deliver a complete in house solution, including installation, monitoring, mobile response and trained officers.
If your organisation is reviewing its security arrangements or planning ahead, our team can provide clear and practical guidance based on your environment. To speak with Rivo Security & Monitoring, you can contact info@rivosecurity.com, call 0113 487 3999, or visit rivosecurity.com. Our head office is located at Anchor House, Thornhill Road, Dewsbury, WF12 9QE.
