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Security insight. Real-world expertise.
Advice, perspectives and stories from the people protecting businesses and communities across South Wales.
- Security advice
What does effective security look like for your business?
From the first risk assessment to the people on the ground, discover what makes a security plan work.
24 September 2026 · 6 min read
Security insight. Real-world expertise.
Advice, perspectives and stories from the people protecting businesses and communities across South Wales.
- Security advice
What does effective security look like for your business?
From the first risk assessment to the people on the ground, discover what makes a security plan work.
24 September 2026 · 6 min read
What does effective security look like for your business?
From the first risk assessment to the people on the ground, discover what makes a security plan work.
- · 3 min read
- From our team
Latest articles
Uncategorized
- · 5 min read
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You might not believe that employees steal or you might be thinking “yes, but my employees would never steal,” but it happens much more often than you’d think and it can happen to anyone.
Learning that a trusted employee is stealing from you and your company can be very shocking. It may even result in feelings of betrayal, upset and anger, but it is important to handle it right. For example, if you are afraid of confrontation, you may feel the need to look the other way and hope it was a one-time thing. Or, if you don’t take the time to reflect and act on your immediate anger, you could result in some serious legal trouble. Either reaction is not a good one.
To prevent and manage employee theft, you need to first understand it. Only then can you learn the best ways to prevent it from happening altogether.
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Employee Theft: Why Do They Steal?
As you can guess, employee theft is all about money. Whether it is stealing money physically, selling assets and pocketing the money, or stealing physical objects that they can’t afford to buy themselves, money is often the reason that people steal.
Like all crime, theft tends to occur when there are three elements present:
- Motive
- Desire
- Opportunity
Everyone needs a reason to do something and when it comes to employee theft, it is usually a negative reason that gives them the motive to steal. For example, a resentful employee who may feel underpaid or a vengeful employee who has been overlooked for a promotion. Both employees feel they deserve these things, therefore, not getting them gives them the motivation to take something for themselves.
Desire is then the emotion that builds on motive. For example, letting those negative emotions about that missed promotion build and imagining the satisfaction of getting one over on the company, strongly reinforce them to do just that.
Lastly, theft only occurs when an opportunity opens up. In the workplace, inadequate policies, lack of attention from managers and the absence of barriers all open up potential opportunities that a disgruntled employee won’t hesitate to take advantage.
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How to Combat Employee Theft
By simply being aware of why employees steal, you can now start to prepare yourself for potential theft and prevent it from happening altogether.
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First, you need to identify “high-risk” employees.
If you are able to identify employees that may be more likely to steal, you can prevent theft indirectly by not hiring them in the first place or restricting what jobs that they can do (e.g not anything that involves money, merchandise etc). Potential high-risk employees may include those who are:
- Rule Breakers – they are more likely to violate policies and may not be trustworthy
- Controlling – if someone refuses to take a vacation, continually works overtime and is possessive of their things, they most likely have something to hide
- Immature or Troubled – they are more likely to indulge in anti-social behaviours
- Feeling Wronged – they may be more likely to steal as a way of getting back at you
- Chronic Liars – stealing and lying tend to go hand in hand
- Substance Abusers – they may be more likely to steal due to financial pressures or to satisfy a craving
- Living Above Their Means – this may be due to stealing from the company
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Second, you need to put sufficient measures in place.
To prevent employee theft, you need to remove the opportunities by upping your security. This can be done in simple ways:
- Use the Buddy System – try not to leave an employee alone in the store or at the register. By always having two people on shift, and rotating everyone, this will reduce the likelihood of stealing.
- CCTV – for most people, knowing that they are being watched is enough to deter them from bad behaviour. However, you do get employees who don’t believe that they are actually being monitored, so make sure to make a point of checking the footage weekly and make them aware of it.
- Monitor Trash Removal – employees can steal merchandise by concealing it in the rubbish, so make sure to use clear bags, monitor who and how often the trash is taken out, and insist on the locking of all dumpsters.
- Employee Tip Line – there may be instances where an employee has seen another steal or suspects a person on shift if merchandise or money goes missing. By setting up an employee tip line, you are giving employees an anonymous way of communicating with you and they’ll be more likely to use it.
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Third, terminate any employees who are stealing.
If you have serious information that an employee has been stealing, you need to prove it before you can terminate them. To do this, you first have to build a case by:
- Gathering Evidence – video and digital evidence are strong, just make sure you review the footage with another witness.
- Auditing Records – check all your computer files and financial records for evidence of all activities.
- Preserving Hard Copies – make sure to make copies of all computer files, emails, documents, or anything that you consider to be evidence.
- Maintaining a Chain of Custody – to prove that you didn’t tamper with the evidence.
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When trying to tackle employee theft, always consider the 10-10-80 rule. This rule theorises that 10% of employees won’t steal even when presented with the opportunity, 10% will, but 80% could go either way. With such a high amount of potential risk, you need to make sure that you remove the opportunities to steal through the measures above and enforce how serious you take employee theft with regular meetings and the termination of employees where you have proof of them stealing. By removing the opportunity, you’ve greatly cut the odds of being a victim!
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There are a variety of workplace threats…
If you’re interested in knowing more about threat awareness training for your staff, RGM are offering training courses developed by Counter Terrorism and Threat Specialists. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Need more information about threat awareness? Check out our other articles:
a You might not believe that employees steal or you might be thinking “yes, but my employees would never steal,”
Uncategorized
- · 3 min read
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“Workplace violence is broadly defined as any act or threat of physical violence in which a company employee is involved.”
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With such a broad definition, this term includes violent incidents that range from bullying, intimidation and harassment to theft, physical violence and even terrorism. So with such an important subject that can impact any business, why is it still a topic that is misunderstood?
It is essential to understand what workplace violence actually means and all of the different types that can occur, as how else can businesses develop an effective prevention and management plan? Only when workplace violence is broken down and understood can managers prevent, report and respond to any incidents efficiently and effectively.
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To help you do this, we at RGM have put together the 5 types of workplace violence that can occur.
Workplace violence can occur between an employee and a…
Criminal
Workplace violence that involves a criminal is usually a random act where the primary motive is theft. More often than not, the criminal has no relationship with the establishment and the violence occurs during shoplifting, an attempted robbery or a trespassing incident.
Workers at risk: any business that has direct public contact, handles cash, has high-value items and/or requires workers to work early or late hours or alone.
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Customer/Client
Workplace violence that involves a customer or client usually occurs in organisations where there is high stress or emotion involved, such as the A&E department of a hospital. The violence usually occurs in conjunction with the worker’s normal duties so this can be difficult to manage.
Workers at risk: anybody who works in the private sector and in organisations with a large population (hospitals, schools and universities), with healthcare and social service workers being more at risk.
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Spouse/Significant Other
Workplace violence that involves an employee and their spouse or significant other can also be referred to as domestic violence that occurs in the workplace. This is when an employee’s partner specifically targets them at work and this type of violence is often the most frequent as the abuser knows exactly where they will be and at what times.
Workers at risk: any worker that has recently or is currently going through a divorce or separation. The risk of violence is often higher for female workers and is more likely to occur in organisations that are easily accessible to the public.
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An Employee
Workplace violence can also occur between two or more employees within a company. More often than not, the reason for violence is personal, such as bullying, loss or trauma, or due to work-related conflicts. Common incidences of violence are made by former employees but current employees can also cause issues.
Workers at risk: managers and supervisors who work in organisations with a large employee population, especially where employees work closely for long periods or in conditions of high stress or emotion.
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Person/People Committing Acts of Terrorism
This type of workplace violence is usually carried out by an extremist person or people who want to make an ideological, religious or political statement. Justifying their actions with their beliefs, their violent acts can range from mailed threats to bombs or active shooter situations.
Workers at risk: any business that is in a main city or buildings of importance such as airports, train or subway stations or major shopping centres. Workers that have direct public contact should also be trained to be aware.
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As workplace violence is one of the leading causes of job-related deaths, especially acts carried out by criminals or an employee’s significant other, it is essential that all organisations are aware of all potential situations that can occur so that they can implement effective prevention strategies to manage them.
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What we can do for you:
If you’re interested in knowing more about threat awareness training for your staff, RGM are offering training courses developed by Counter Terrorism and Threat Specialists. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Need more information about threat awareness? Check out our other articles:
a “Workplace violence is broadly defined as any act or threat of physical violence in which a company employee is
Uncategorized
- · 3 min read
New Year is all about self-improvement and this shouldn’t be any different for our businesses. In the wake of the New Year, we all need to be spending some time thinking how we can make our businesses stronger, safer and more secure because as soon as we all get into the swing of our professional and family life again, we soon won’t have the time!
Security is the backbone of any business, so it is crucial that you set aside time this January to plan your goals and consider how you can make it more secure. Only when we reflect on our current practices and measures can we improve them and ensure that they are evolving with the changing times, so stay on top of yours in the New Year with these 4 business security resolutions.
4 Security Resolutions Every Business Should Implement
Review Your Current Security Situation
What security policies do you currently have in place in your business? Are they still appropriate or do they need to have additions or other changes? It is important that all policies are reviewed at the beginning of the year so that you can make sure they are up to date with your current business environment and then make everyone else aware of the updated policy too. Many security breaches are due to errors made by staff members who aren’t aware of policy changes and employee expectation, so protect your business by keeping everyone informed.
You can also take an audit of your current security to check for any weaknesses. If you need help, see our other useful articles:
6 Easy Ways to Find Security Weaknesses in Your Business
Protecting Your Business in the New Year: the Complete Security Risk Assessment
Compare Your Security with Businesses Around You
As well as looking at your own business, it’s also good practice to take a look at businesses around you. What security measures do they have in place? Are they effective? Are they implementing any changes and if so, why? By comparing your business to others, you are ensuring that you don’t become an easy target for criminals. Not only can you get some different security ideas, but you can also get insights into the experiences that they have had and if any scams have been carried out in your area.
Strengthen and Stress the Importance of Cybersecurity
Many businesses may have sufficient physical security in place, but cybersecurity is becoming an ever-increasing problem as technology develops. With many businesses having to collect and handle sensitive data, it’s just as important to protect this as it is your business itself. Something as simple as not updating your computer software or not regularly changing your password can result in devastating consequences for any business, so develop and enforce an effective cybersecurity policy sooner rather than later!
Read:
4 Ways to Prevent a Cyber Attack on Your Business
Password Security: 10 Tips to Keep Your Passwords Safe
Implement Threat Awareness Training into Your Business
Much like fire drills and health and safety, threat awareness is becoming an essential requirement for employee training in the workplace. Especially now, with the escalation in terrorism, it has never been more important for workers to be aware and prepared for any situation. To find out more about why it’s important to run threat drills, how to run them and what types of workplace threats you need to prepare for, read our detailed blogs below.
Read:
Why It’s Important to Run Threat Drills in the Workplace
6 Tips for Running Effective Threat Drills
What Types of Threats Can We Face in the Workplace
With these security resolutions, you can ensure that your business is as safe and secure as it can be going into the New Year. Just make sure you make time to reflect on your current policies and measures and implement improvements and training as soon as possible before it’s too late!
What we can do for you:
If you’re interested in knowing more about threat awareness training for your staff, RGM are offering training courses developed by Counter Terrorism and Threat Specialists. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Check out our other articles to keep every aspect of your business safe:
The Best 6 Security Hacks for Every Business
Protecting Your Land Perimeter from Intruders and Theft
New Year is all about self-improvement and this shouldn’t be any different for our businesses. In the wake of the
Uncategorized
- · 3 min read
Winter is one of the worst times of the year for domestic and commercial break-ins, as the dark and the cold makes for fewer people on the streets which then makes the empty premises with extra stock and cash on site more tempting. With this in mind, security should be your top priority over the Winter months!
To ensure you don’t get caught out when your business closes for Christmas and New Year, we’ve put together this quick list for you to check you’re covered and to give you peace of mind over the holidays!
Keep Your Business and Data Safe
Check Your Business Insurance
Your first port of call before the Christmas shut down? Check your business insurance! While having all the sufficient security measures in place is essential, sometimes that’s just not enough. If this is the case, the last thing you want is for you to be left in an even worse position because your insurance isn’t valid or up-to-date.
Identify Any Weaknesses in Your Business
It’s always good practice to do a full audit of your business security before leaving the premises for a period of time over Winter, so use this opportunity to think how a criminal would and identify any weaknesses. If there are any weaknesses, how can you correct them? If not, are there any additional measures you can put in place to upgrade your current systems?
Read: 6 Easy Ways To Find Security Weaknesses In Your Business
Do Your Bit
Security measures can only do so much, so make sure to do your bit and don’t tempt opportunistic thieves! Make sure that all CCTV cameras are visible, that your alarms work, move valuable items out of sight, check all windows and doors are locked, and only ever leave lights on where you can’t see that the property is empty.
Read: The Best 6 Security Hacks for Every Business
Consider Off-Site Storage
With the sheer amount of stock and data that some businesses handle, many choose to use off-site storage to keep records and backups of their valuable assets. This ensures that, if computers are stolen, the business still has all the data and files it needs to still function. It may not be suitable for all businesses, but it is a good idea to safely back up files or store equipment of high value until you need it.
Update and Keep Up-to-date!
Don’t let passwords be the weak link in your business! In today’s technological world, a weak password could mean a hacker obtaining access to all accounts, therefore compromising the entire business. Always ensure that employees update their passwords regularly with strong alternatives, that they use different passwords for each account, and that all computer software is always up-to-date.
Read: Data Security: How to Keep Your Business Accounts Secure Over Christmas
Remeber these tips before any shutdown period and you can be sure that your business is kept as safe and secure as it can be while you’re away!
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What we can do for you:
RGM Security offers a wide range of security services as well as penetration testing to check your defences and threat awareness training for your staff. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Need more help with security? Check out our other guides for more advice and information
- Keep Your Business Safe and Secure this Winter
- Protecting Your Business in the New Year: The Complete Security Risk Assessment
Winter is one of the worst times of the year for domestic and commercial break-ins, as the dark and the
Uncategorized
- · 5 min read
A recent BBC Radio 5 live survey spoke to more than 2,000 people and found that:
- half of the British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work or a place of study
- 63% of harassed women didn’t report it to anyone
- 79% of harassed men kept it to themselves
The above alone shows the magnitude of the problem in the UK, and with so much recent news about sexual harassment and the “me too” campaign that went viral on social media, this shows how much of a problem it still is on a global scale.
So what can we do about it?
As with most issues, the best way to prevent them is to raise awareness and educate people on what can be done about it. For this reason, we at RGM Security decided to put together a guide to sexual harassment to advise workers on what to do.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is a term that covers any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature and is, more often than not, about the abuse of power. Typically when we hear the term, people think of female victims, usually women who work in large offices or predominantly male jobs. This is not the case, however, as anyone in any occupation can be subject to sexual harassment and they can do something about it.
Sexual harassment can be:
- Verbal – indecent remarks or jokes, inappropriate questions or comments about your sex life, requests or threats for sexual favours.
- Non-verbal – inappropriate staring especially at a person’s body, displaying or sharing of sexually explicit material (e.g nude calendars).
- Physical – unwelcome touching or sexual advances, sexual assault.
- Anything that violates your dignity or makes you feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated.
- Anything that creates a hostile or offensive work environment.
What Can I Do About it?
Sexual harassment doesn’t strictly have a definition and can be hard to manage, as what one might consider an innocent action or remark may be offensive to another. With this being said however, if the victim feels like any comment or action has degraded or offended them or that they are being treated unfairly because of their sex, they have the right under the Sex Discrimination Act to seek legal action.
If you’re being sexually harassed at work, you should:
Keep a Diary
It’s important that you make a note of what happened, when it happened, where it happened and roughly at what time, as well as anyone who was there at the time it took place. Even if it was just one event, you will need to know these details if you are to make an official complaint further down the line. It is also essential if the behaviour carries on so that you can recall and refer back to specific incidents.
Tell someone
Being sexually harassed can lead to a person feeling very alone, hopeless, and frightened, so it is essential that you tell someone who can help you. The sooner you speak up the better, so make sure you follow the steps below straight after an incident:
- Tell the harasser – it is important that you first try and confront the person who has made the comment or act as it may be that they didn’t realise that they were being offensive. Make sure to be clear, describe what they did and that they are not to do it again. Do your best to ignore any attempts to dismiss what you have to say. If you don’t want to talk to them, write them a letter and keep a dated copy for reference or evidence if you need it.
- Tell a friend/colleague – if you don’t want to confront your harasser or you have and they haven’t stopped, it is helpful if you have someone to support you. Talk to a friend or colleague so that someone is aware of what is happening. Colleagues can then act as a witness to any incidents in the future.
- Tell your manager – every company has a procedure in place to investigate sexual harassment complaints, so if the behaviour continues, talk to your employer and make a formal grievance/complaint. They will want to see your record that you’ve kept and should take the necessary action. Remember to put the meeting in writing and keep a copy.
- Tell your HR team or trade union – at any time, you can talk to your HR team or trade union for advice. They can also inform you of what the company grievance process is and how it works.
- Tell the police – if any incident is violent in nature, this is considered a crime and you should inform the police.
Take Your Case to an Employment Tribunal
If the behaviour continues or for some reason, you can’t sort the problem out through your place of employment, you can take your claim to an employment tribunal. Employment tribunals are external committees who will investigate and assess employers on their response to sexual harassment before deeming whether they have acted unlawfully. They will seek to resolve the issue, however, you must file your complaint within 3 months of the incident taking place.
You should take your case to an employment tribunal if:
- You’ve reported the harassment to your employer but it has continued
- The harasser is your employer or owns the company
- You are not satisfied with the handling or the outcome of the investigation by your employer
Sexual harassment is a very serious issue that affects a lot of workers. By following this guide, hopefully, you or someone you know, now knows that there are things that you can do to stop it. There are laws to protect every worker in every company, so don’t ever think that you’re alone and there’s nothing you can do – tell someone straight away and get it sorted!
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Useful Resources:
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What we can do for you:
If you’re interested in knowing more about threat awareness training for your staff, RGM are offering training courses developed by Counter Terrorism and Threat Specialists. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Need more information about threats in the workplace? Check out our other articles:
A recent BBC Radio 5 live survey spoke to more than 2,000 people and found that: half of the British
Uncategorized
- · 5 min read
Workplace violence can occur in any environment. However, there is an increased risk of violence in certain occupations and positions, which are but are not limited to, jobs that involve:
- the exchange of money (banks, retail etc.)
- working alone or in small numbers
- working in public settings (law enforcement, teachers, taxicab drivers, hotel clerks, bartenders etc.)
- working very late or early hours
- working in high crime areas
- guarding or maintaining property or possessions
In our last blog, we wanted to raise awareness about how broad workplace violence is and we looked at the five types that can occur. In this follow-on blog, we’ll briefly touch upon the five types again but with a focus on how to prevent and manage them.
With workplace violence being one of the leading causes of job-related deaths, it is essential to be aware of all the potential situations that can occur so that employers can efficiently and effectively put prevention and management strategies in place.
Read: Threat Awareness: The 5 Types of Workplace Violence
Types of Workplace Violence and What to Do
Criminal
In this instance, the violence usually occurs during shoplifting, an attempted robbery or a trespassing incident. More often than not, it is a random act rather than a personal attack on the employee.
Prevention / Management:
- Take a crime analysis of the area – you need to be aware of the area’s crime rates as well as recent crimes on other similar organisations. This will ensure you are up to date on the latest risks and scams so you can successfully increase your security measures and implement an effective response strategy.
- Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) measures – depending on your work environment, you should consider implementing cash management techniques, barriers, CCTV and public view monitors. It is important to ensure you have the best possible security to make both your employees and customers feel safe.
Client
One of the most difficult violent acts to avoid in the workplace is violence that comes from a customer or client. Usually, these are spontaneous instances caused by high stress or emotion in the moment so they can be difficult to anticipate and therefore manage.
Prevention / Management:
The best measures to put in place to prevent this type of workplace violence are methods that reduce the tension or stress in the environment as much as possible. These could include:
- Staff training – all staff who work in these environments need to be trained in de-escalation techniques, as something as simple as listening, talking in a calm and soothing tone, and body language can really make a difference to an emotional situation.
- Effective customer service teams – customer service is essential in all work environments, so any programme or team that works with customers and clients needs to be as efficient and effective as possible. They have the ability to reduce stress for customers AND employees, so this needs to be a focus for many employers.
To manage these situations, you will need to develop an effective response and coordinate this with local police agencies.
Significant Other
Often referred to as domestic violence in the workplace, violence can also occur between an employee and their significant other. This type of violence is very frequent and is a greater threat to female employees.
Prevention / Management:
- Train all staff in threat awareness – ensuring all your staff are aware of potential threats, how they arise, and how to respond, can be the most effective prevention strategy. Not only can they identify the warning signs, but they can also assess how threatening a situation is and how immediate the necessary action needs to be.
- Develop and implement low-risk communication methods – once staff are vigilant, they will need a safe way of communicating any potential risk to themselves or their co-workers to their employers.
- Work with local police agencies – if you have employees that are at-risk of potential violence, employers will need to communicate and work with the police to develop additional measures to protect them.
Employee
Workplace violence can also occur between two or more employees. More often than not, the violence is personal and can be carried out by former disgruntled employees.
Prevention / Management:
- Hire the right people – interviews, inductions, and trial periods are in place for a reason, so make sure to enforce yours to ensure you are hiring people that are right for your company.
- Treat your employees well – a certain management style may not suit everyone, so the most important thing is to ensure that you make your employees feel heard and appreciated. Listen to their concerns and take on board their suggestions for change where possible. It would also be useful to provide training in de-escalation techniques to all supervisors and managers to reduce the risk of violence in incidents such as terminations and disciplinary actions.
- Develop and implement opportunities for communications as well as effective response strategies – employees need to feel like they can turn to someone to report their issues and concerns, so make sure to have open and private options for communication. In some cases, these concerns may be serious, so you will also need to have a quick way of assessing and responding to these situations.
Terrorism
Potentially the most difficult type of workplace violence for employers and employees to prevent and manage is acts of terrorism. However, it is absolutely essential to have these measures and strategies in place than not at all to reduce their impact and potentially save lives.
Prevention / Management:
- Evaluate your organisation’s threat potential – much like a risk assessment, employers need to look at each aspect of their organisation and analyse their potential for terrorist acts. Only when these weak areas are identified can employers plan and implement security measures and responses.
- Undertake terrorism awareness training and develop effective defence strategies – as said above, employee training is essential to prevent and manage threat situations. Not only does reduce the impact of a given situation, but it also ensures the safety of your employees and customers.
- Enforce and practice threat responses – as you would with fire drills, terrorism responses need to be practiced regularly to ensure a smooth and efficient response to any given situation.
What we can do for you:
If you’re interested in knowing more about threat awareness training for your staff, RGM are offering training courses developed by Counter Terrorism and Threat Specialists. If you need training or just advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Need more information about threat awareness? Check out our other articles:
Workplace violence can occur in any environment. However, there is an increased risk of violence in certain occupations and positions,
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