New Raid Training Launched to Prepare Jewellery Sector for Growing Threat of Organised Crime

New Raid Training Launched to Prepare Jewellery Sector for Growing Threat of Organised Crime

02 Oct 2026

A dramatic 266% increase in the number of armed attacks made on jewellery and watch retailers in the year to date compared to the entirety of 2025, has led UK Protection to open its RAID training courses, previously only available to its luxury retail customers, to the wider market.

Stats from SaferGems show that 38 raids took place on watch and jewellery retailers through to the end of August, resulting in over £4 million worth of valuables being stolen. Worryingly, of these, 22 involved weapons, causing untold psychological damage to staff caught in the crossfire. This compares to the whole of 2025 which saw 22 robbery reports, of which just six were armed.

Preparing ahead of Christmas

With the busy run up to Christmas ahead, when stores frequently increase stock levels, UK Protection Ltd - the UK's leading provider of premium manned guarding services and specialist risk management services - is calling on luxury retailers to prepare their staff for what has become an alarming escalation in armed attacks.

To address this near and present danger, UK Protection's new RAID training courses gives retailers and their staff the skills they need to deal with high-stress situations, alongside the tools to keep themselves and their customers safe in the event of a raid.

Setting out what to do and how to act, as well as guidance on post-incident protocols and recovery, the service is proving increasingly popular with luxury retailers who recognise their responsibilities as an employer.

Addressing the threat of organised retail crime, armed robbery, smash-and-grab attacks and sophisticated criminal activity affecting the UK retail sector, the training provides delegates with practical, real-world knowledge enabling them to recognise threats, respond effectively and reduce the impact of serious criminal incidents.

Designed to develop situational awareness, behavioural recognition, communication skills and decision-making under pressure - all critical factors that can significantly improve personal safety and organisational resilience - the course gives delegates an understanding of how organised criminal gangs operate.

It looks at the tactics employed by criminals, pre-attack indicators, common modes of transport, escalating levels of violence and the importance of maintaining clear communication throughout an incident.

Zeroing in on emerging threats including distraction offences, vulnerable victim fraud, internal intelligence gathering, subcontractor risks and effective post-incident procedures, the course looks beyond physical security to give attendees a comprehensive understanding of the risks facing today's retail sector.

Commenting on the new RAID courses, Andy Fairbanks, Group CEO of UK Protection Ltd, said,

"Today, the question is not if, but when a raid, robbery, or theft will take place. Organised criminals look for weaknesses. They assess awareness. They identify flaws in protocols. Your responsibility as a retailer is to become the hard target, pushing determined criminals elsewhere.

"Those businesses that have better-trained staff and a switched-on approach to security represent a risk to those criminal gangs. RAID training delivers this and much more, making for a confident, vigilant and well-equipped team capable of identifying suspicious behaviour before an incident escalates.

"This helps reduce operational risk, improves incident reporting, and increases employee confidence. In turn, this enhances customer safety and strengthens the protection of both valuable assets and corporate reputation."

Expert training

UK Protection Ltd's RAID awareness courses are delivered by instructors with genuine frontline operational experience made up of former police officers, military personnel, intelligence specialists and experienced security professionals.

Bringing together decades of operational knowledge across retail security, close protection, covert operations, investigations, intelligence gathering and risk management, the RAID courses are designed to deliver practical, engaging and relevant training based on real incidents rather than classroom theory.

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Source: UK Protection Ltd