From Northumberland Street to the Metrocentre: Comparing Retail Security Needs

A shop assistant on Northumberland Street watches a man stuff jackets into a bag and walk straight out. She has seen this before. She presses the panic button, but the thief is already gone. Twenty minutes later, a similar scene plays out in a shop at the Metrocentre. Same method. Different location.

Retail crime in Newcastle is not confined to one street or one shopping centre. It spreads across the city, from the busy high street to the out-of-town retail parks. But the threats are not the same everywhere. A city centre store faces different risks from a unit in a massive shopping complex. Understanding these differences is the first step toward protecting your business.

This blog compares the retail security challenges on Northumberland Street and at the Metrocentre, explains why each location needs a tailored approach, and shows how working with a professional security company in Newcastle can make all the difference.

The Numbers Behind the Problem

Newcastle city centre suffers more shoplifting than almost anywhere else in the country. In the year to June 2025, there were 4,700 shoplifting cases in the city, an increase of 15.7% compared to the previous year. The shoplifting crime rate in Newcastle is 169% of the national average, placing the city 18th out of 99 cities in England and Wales. Shoplifting makes up nearly 11% of all crimes committed in the area.

Last year alone, police recorded 1,273 shoplifting offences in Newcastle city centre. That was the seventh highest number among more than 7,000 similarly sized neighbourhood areas across England and Wales. It is also far more than anywhere else in the North East.

The Metrocentre tells a slightly different story. The area around The Boulevard recorded 598 reported crimes per 1,000 people over the previous 12 months, which is a high level compared with other statistical areas. However, the overall crime rate in Gateshead is rated as medium compared to other local authority districts. The Metrocentre's crime rate is actually 30% lower than the Gateshead average and 20% lower than the national average. Violent crime at the Metrocentre is 62% lower than the Gateshead average.

These numbers reveal a clear pattern. The city centre is the epicentre of retail crime. The out of town centres face risk, but the nature and volume of that risk is different.

Northumberland Street: The Heart of the Problem

Northumberland Street is Newcastle's busiest shopping thoroughfare. It is home to major retailers, independent shops, and thousands of daily visitors. It is also a hotspot for shoplifting. The area records 219 shoplifting offences per 1,000 people, which is rated 9 out of 10 for severity. Public order offences are also rated 9 out of 10.

The Density Factor

Northumberland Street is crowded. Footfall is high throughout the day. This creates opportunities for thieves who blend into the crowd. It also makes it harder for staff to spot suspicious behaviour. A thief can slip in and out before anyone notices.

The Nighttime Risk

Retail security in Newcastle does not end when the shops close. The area around Northumberland Street and nearby Bigg Market records 2,264 reported crimes per 1,000 people over a 12-month period, a very high level. 

In July 2025 alone, 853 crimes were recorded within half a mile of Bigg Market. Shoplifting, public order offences, and antisocial behaviour are all rated as high or very high in this area. Retailers on Northumberland Street face risks not just during opening hours but also from late-night disorder that spills onto their doorsteps.

The Response

Newcastle has responded with a collaborative approach. The NE1 Business Improvement District team has built a crime reduction partnership that includes police, council, support services, and over 300 businesses. 

Street rangers patrol the city, and every incident receives a response. In 12 months, overall crime dropped 8%, antisocial behaviour plunged 30%, and thefts fell 11%. This shows what can be achieved when retailers, authorities, and a security company in Newcastle work together.

The Metrocentre: A Different Challenge

The Metrocentre is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. It covers a vast area with multiple malls, anchor stores, and parking facilities. The security challenges here are different from those on a city centre high street.

The Scale Issue

The Metrocentre is enormous. It has multiple entrances, car parks, and service areas. This creates challenges for monitoring and access control. A thief can enter through one entrance, steal from a store, and exit through another before anyone raises the alarm. 

The sheer size of the centre makes it difficult to maintain a visible security presence everywhere at once.

The Car Park Risk

Car parks are a major vulnerability at out-of-town centres. Thieves target vehicles for theft, break-ins, and catalytic converter removal. The Metrocentre's car parks are vast and often dimly lit. This creates opportunities for criminals who operate in the shadows.

The Organised Threat

Organised criminals have targeted the Metrocentre. In one case, an arrogant shoplifter plagued shops across the North East, repeatedly targeting stores in the Metrocentre.

In another incident, armed police were called to the centre after a disturbance involving five men. These are not opportunistic thefts. They are planned operations.

The Lower Crime Rate

Despite these challenges, the Metrocentre's overall crime rate is lower than that of the city centre. The area around The Boulevard has a high crime level, but violent crime is significantly lower than the Gateshead average. This suggests that the Metrocentre's security measures are effective.

But it also means that retailers there may become complacent. They may assume that because the centre is safe, they do not need additional protection. That assumption is dangerous.

Why One Size Does Not Fit All

Retail security in Newcastle cannot be a standard package. What works on Northumberland Street will not necessarily work at the Metrocentre. The threats are different. The environments are different. The solutions must be different.

City Centre Priorities

• Visible deterrents at entrances to discourage kamikaze theft

• Staff training to spot suspicious behaviour and handle confrontations

• Coordination with street rangers and police for rapid response

• Out-of-hours protection against vandalism and break ins

• Monitoring of delivery areas and stockrooms

Metrocentre Priorities

• Access control at multiple entry points

• Car park security and patrols

• Coordination with centre-wide security teams

• Protection against organised theft rings

• Monitoring of service areas and loading bays

The Common Thread

Both environments share one thing. They both need trained, SIA-licensed officers who understand retail security. A professional security company in Newcastle can provide guards who are trained to handle the specific challenges of each location. 

They can conduct risk assessments, design tailored plans, and deploy officers where they are needed most.

Practical Security Measures That Work

Whether you are on Northumberland Street or at the Metrocentre, these measures make a difference:

• Visible uniformed officers at entrances and high-risk areas

• Regular patrols at unpredictable intervals

• Access control systems that log every entry and exit

• Staff training in conflict de-escalation and incident reporting

• Coordination with local police and business improvement districts

• Out-of-hours guarding for vacant or low-traffic periods

• CCTV systems that are monitored in real time

The most effective retail security in Newcastle combines technology with human presence. Camera record. Guards prevent it. A guard who sees someone acting nervously can intervene before a theft occurs. A guard who notices a door left open can close it before an intruder enters. Technology is reactive. Human judgment is proactive.

Conclusion

The shop assistant on Northumberland Street and the store manager at the Metrocentre face the same problem but in different forms. City centre retailers deal with high volume, brazen theft, and late night disorder. Metrocentre retailers deal with organised crime, car park risks, and the challenge of scale.

Retail security in Newcastle must reflect these differences. A standard approach will leave gaps. Gaps that criminals will exploit.

Working with a professional security company in Newcastle means getting a tailored solution. One that understands the specific risks of your location. One that deploys the right people in the right places. One that adapts as the threats evolve.

The numbers are clear. Shoplifting is rising. Criminals are becoming bolder. Retailers cannot afford to wait. The cost of a single theft is not just the value of the goods. It is the insurance claim, the staff time, the reputation damage, and the lost customer confidence. 

Do not wait until after the theft to take security seriously. Invest in retail security in Newcastle before something goes wrong, not after.