Retail Security · London and UK-wide · Since 1998
Retail Security Services
Losses and abuse on the shop floor cost you money and wear your team down. We protect stores across the UK with uniformed guards and plain-clothes store detectives, from luxury boutiques to busy high street shops.
Free and with no obligation.
Retail Security Services
SIA-Licensed Guards and Store Detectives, UK-Wide
Retail security from Double Check Security Group covers SIA-licensed guards and plain-clothes store detectives for shops across the UK, from luxury boutiques to high street stores.
With offices throughout the UK, we cover both guarding and loss prevention. Every job starts with a free security assessment.
Sectors Covered
Stores We Protect
We work across retail, and we match the officer to the setting. Our retail clients include Liberty, Ralph Lauren, and Watchfinder, and we protect stores of every kind: luxury and designer boutiques, department stores, jewellery and watch retailers, supermarkets, high street shops, and shopping centres. Each one has different risks, so each one gets a plan built around it.
Retail Security Guards
Uniformed Retail Security Guards
A guard at the door changes how your store feels. Most thieves look for an easy target, which means a visible officer sends them elsewhere. Your staff relax. Your customers feel looked after.
In luxury and boutique stores, our officers act as brand ambassadors. They are well presented, calm, and good with people, greeting customers whilst watching the room at the same time.
On the high street and in supermarkets, the job is busier. Our guards handle high footfall, manage difficult situations, and step in when staff need backup, because they are trained in conflict management so a tense moment stays calm.
Every officer holds a current SIA licence and is vetted to the BS7858 standard, which means proper checks on identity, work history, and criminal record before they set foot in your store.
Loss Prevention
Plain-Clothes Store Detectives
A uniform stops the casual thief. It does not stop the ones who plan, because repeat offenders and organised theft gangs wait until the guard moves on, then take what they came for.
That is where our store detectives work. They dress as shoppers and blend into your store, watching for the small signs most people miss, following a suspect calmly, and gathering clear evidence before anyone acts.
This matters for two reasons. First, you catch the people causing the real losses, not just the opportunists. Second, the evidence is collected properly, which protects you if a case goes further.
We often pair the two services. Guards deter in plain sight while detectives catch what slips past, and used together, they close the gap that guarding alone leaves open.
Client feedback
What Our Retail Security Clients Say
Reliable service is measured by the people who experience it every day. See what clients say about working with us
How It Works
How We Get Your Store Covered
From your first visit to trained officers on your shop floor, here is how we get your store covered.
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Understanding your store
Free Assessment
An honest look at your store before we recommend anything.We visit your store or speak by phone. We look at your layout, your losses and your risks, then tell you honestly what you need.
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A plan matched to your store
Your Security Plan
A clear plan and a price, built around your store.You get a clear plan and a price. Guards, store detectives, or both, on the hours and days that fit your store.
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Cover you can rely on
Trained Team on Site
One point of contact, reliable cover, shift after shift.Vetted, licensed officers start work. You get one point of contact and reliable cover, shift after shift.
Why Choose Us
Why Stores Choose Double Check Security
Four reasons retailers trust us to protect stock, staff and reputation, from a single boutique to a busy high street chain.
Listed in the Infologue Top 100 UK security companies for 2025, an independent industry ranking you can check for yourself.
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Guards and detectives in one team
Most firms give you one or the other. We give you both, working together, so nothing slips through.
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Officers who fit your brand
From a designer boutique to a supermarket, our staff look the part and treat your customers well. They protect your reputation, not just your stock.
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Trained, vetted, and within the law
Every guard is SIA licensed and BS7858 vetted. They know exactly what they can and cannot do, which keeps you clear of legal trouble.
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Accredited and independently ranked
We hold SIA Approved Contractor status and ISO 9001, and we are listed in the Infologue Top 100 UK security companies for 2025.
Retail Security Pricing
What Retail Security Costs
Retail security is priced around your store, not a flat rate everyone pays. No two stores face the same footfall, stock or risk, so a few factors decide what you'll actually spend.
Your final quote depends on a few things
- Hours and days covered
- How many hours you need each day, and which days of the week.
- Guards, detectives, or both
- A visible uniformed presence, plain-clothes loss prevention, or a combination of the two.
- Store size and stock risk
- The size of your shop floor and how exposed your stock is to shrinkage.
- Your location
- Whether you're on the high street, in a shopping centre, or a retail park, across London and the wider UK.
- Length of contract
- Short-term cover for a specific period, such as a sale or seasonal peak, or an ongoing rolling contract.
A quick look at your store tells us most of what we need. Share your footfall, opening hours and any stock concerns, and a clear, itemised quote follows.
Areas Covered
Retail Security Across the UK
We cover stores in all major cities across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Wherever your store sits, we can put trained officers on the floor, backed by our wider security services across the UK.
Explore the areas we cover across the UK
Assessments are free, with no obligation to proceed.
Not sure whether we cover your store's location? Get in touch. We can confirm cover for your city or region before you book.
Compliance, Vetting and Accountability
Retail Security Should Protect More Than the Stock
A retail security officer is trusted around your stock, your cash, your employees and the public. That level of access should never be given to someone who has not been properly licensed, screened and briefed for the site they are protecting.
Every retail security officer we deploy holds a valid SIA Security Guarding licence (opens in a new tab) and is screened to BS 7858, the British standard for security vetting.
Common questions
Retail Security Questions, Answered
Clear answers on cover, cost and what our retail security guards and store detectives can do for you.
020 3794 8182
Should I choose uniformed guards or plain-clothes detectives?
It depends on your risk. Uniformed guards deter theft and reassure customers. Store detectives catch planned and organised theft. Many stores use both, and we can advise which mix suits you.
What is a store detective?
A store detective is a plain-clothes officer who works undercover on your shop floor. They spot, follow and gather evidence on shoplifters without being noticed, which helps catch the repeat offenders that uniformed guards alone often miss.
What can a retail security guard legally do?
A guard can watch, deter and ask people to leave. They can make a citizen's arrest in specific situations, but they cannot search a person or their bags without consent. Our officers are trained to stay within the law at all times. For more detail, see our guide on what retail security guards can legally do.
Are your security guards SIA licensed?
Yes. Every officer holds a current Security Industry Authority licence and is vetted to the BS7858 standard. We are also an SIA Approved Contractor, which is the highest quality mark in the industry.
How quickly can you provide cover?
It depends on your needs and location, but we move fast. Book a free assessment and we will tell you honestly how soon we can start.
How much does retail security cost in the UK?
Retail security guarding typically costs between £18 and £25 per hour, excluding VAT. The exact price within that range depends on a few things, including the type of officer you need, whether that is a uniformed guard, a plain-clothes store detective, or both, your store's location, the hours and days you need covered, and the length of the contract. A free assessment gives you an accurate, itemised quote for your store.
How much does a retail security officer get paid?
Retail security officers in the UK typically earn between £12.71-£15 per hou
Request a call back about your store security requirements.
Read Our Resources On Retail Security
Find practical advice from our retail security specialists
How to carry out a security risk assessment for a retail store (step by step)
Why do warehouses keep getting broken into and what are thieves actually targeting?
Do security guards actually stop theft or are they just a visible deterrent?
How Security Guards Reduce Retail Shrinkage: What Actually Works in UK Stores
Retail Security for Shopping Centres vs High Street Stores: What’s Different?
How to Audit a Guarding Service Without Falling for Box-Ticking
The Role of Security Guards in Managing Queues and Crowds During Sales Events
Retail Security for Luxury Stores: Extra Measures Businesses Should Take
How to Compare Security Quotes Without Guessing on Quality
