A new proposed policy in New Zealand would see specially trained security guards licensed and given additional powers to manage high-risk situations in retail stores.
Retail NZ claims this could ease the burden on retailers grappling with escalating levels of customer aggression.
Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young said the policy could provide retailers with the support they need as retail crime continues to affect the sector.
Retail NZ's Crime Reports, released in 2023 and 2024, found retail crime costs the sector about $2.6 billion a year. Young said members have told the organisation that instances of customer aggression have continued to worsen in the years since.
"Retailers have been struggling to manage the growing level of abuse and violence from customers in their stores. We support any changes that would provide advanced training to security guards to allow them to appropriately and safely manage these higher-risk situations," Young said.
She said any additional powers granted to specially accredited security guards would need to remain reasonable and proportionate, adding that many retailers could benefit from security staff able to remove customers who are threatening safety or causing harm.
Young said the policy would sit alongside proposed changes to trespass laws for retailers currently before the select committee.
Retail NZ has also positioned its support for advanced security guards as a preferred alternative to the enhanced citizen's arrest provisions developed as part of the Crimes Amendment Bill.
Young said while appropriately trained and licensed security guards would be welcomed in the retail sector, a balanced approach is needed to avoid a disproportionate risk of harm.