John Wood Police forces across the UK are planning to work with independent retailers in an initiative to fight armed attacks on small stores. The first pilot scheme for Raid Control started at a handful of stores in Croydon this week, and a major pilot is planned in a metropolitan police area before a national roll-out across the entire UK which could start before the end of the year. The initiative is a police certification scheme for store security and has been developed by the police working with retailer representatives, security equipment suppliers and insurers. DC Alan Townsend of the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad said five elements for deterring criminals were required for certification: staff training and awareness; cash management; a safe with a time delay; CCTV; and cash degradation (smoke and dye equipment activated when cash is stolen). Retailers who qualify will be given posters and window stickers promoting the fact that the store has police certification and listing the security devices in use on the premises, as a further deterrent to criminals. Townsend said the prime concern of the partners in the initiative was to ensure that the security precautions required were affordable for all retailers. They have worked with suppliers to bring down the cost of equipment such as time delay safes, and he said even if a store had none of the equipment it would cost no more than £1,300 - £1,400 to bring it up to standard. Police will help retailers train their staff and carry out a risk assessment, and advice will be given on the equipment required. Townsend said: "This is the police being proactive in helping retailers to help themselves. I think this is a really exciting development." When the scheme is rolled out it will be offered to any store where an attack takes place, and will also be available through crime prevention officers. The initiative was launched as the Flying Squad released figures showing petrol stations, c-stores and CTNs were the top three retail targets for armed robbers in the capital. {{NEWS }}