Every day, UK hospitality businesses face escalating security threats. The hospitality industry ranks as the second most crime-prone sector in the UK after wholesale and retail, with workplace incidents rising from 100 to 137 cases resulting in injury. Nearly one-third of venues have suffered cybersecurity breaches. But here's what keeps security experts awake at night: most operators still don't understand their vulnerabilities.

Your welcoming atmosphere - multiple entrances, public accessibility, late-night operations - creates the perfect storm for criminals. Hotels report significantly higher incident rates than restaurants, whilst pubs face alcohol-fueled violence that's reaching epidemic proportions.

Vulnerabilities Hiding in Plain Sight

Staff turnover is your invisible enemy. With hospitality experiencing the UK's highest turnover rate at 73.8%, you may be training new employees who don't understand security protocols. Each new hire represents a potential insider threat until properly vetted and trained.

Cash makes you a magnet. If you still have cash transactions, this may attract armed robbers, whilst inadequate cash management enables employee theft. Even contactless payments aren't safe - card skimming and payment fraud target venues with weak security protocols.

Martyn's Law: The Game Changer

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act—Martyn's Law—will fundamentally change security requirements. Any venue accommodating 200+ people must conduct terrorism risk assessments and implement specific security measures.

Standard tier premises (200-799 capacity) must establish public protection procedures including evacuation, lockdown, and staff training protocols. Enhanced tier venues (800+ capacity) face additional requirements including comprehensive risk assessments, documented security measures, and designated senior responsibility.

This is mandatory preparation for the new reality. Venues failing to meet requirements face unlimited fines, license revocation, and personal liability for responsible persons. The legislation recognises what security professionals have long known: hospitality venues are high-value targets requiring professional protection.

The Business Case Reality Check

Here's the truth: risk-based security investment delivers measurable returns that extend far beyond crime prevention. Venues with comprehensive security measures see substantial reductions in theft, significant drops in insurance premiums, and marked improvements in staff retention.

The combination of reduced losses, regulatory compliance, enhanced reputation, and improved staff confidence creates compelling business benefits. Good security is about creating environments where staff feel safe, customers feel secure, and your business can operate without constant threat.

Your Next Move

The question isn't whether you can afford security - it's whether you can afford to remain vulnerable. Every day you delay implementation, you may be gambling with your people's safety, your reputation, and your business survival.

ASG’s risk-based approach will highlight your vulnerabilities and ensure that your security budget is spent effectively to maximise returns and boost security. ASG starts with a security assessment to identify specific vulnerabilities. Implement layered security appropriate to your risks, vulnerabilities, venue type and capacity. Train your team on security protocols and emergency procedures.

(Example of Assist’s risk based approach looking at number of incidents by time per day of the week)

Powered by ShopSafe, our interactive dashboards allow you to easily see where your risks and shrinkage are. This allows ASG to create effective security measures to counter these threats, ensuring we maximise your security budget.

(Example of the Assist dashboard powered by ShopSafe)

Your venue is already a target. The only question is: will you be ready?

Visit Assist Security Group (ASG) & ShopSafe’s Stand: Stand HT408 at ‘Hospitality Tech Expo’, September 30 to October 1st 2025. It is an opportunity to see ASG’s risk-based security solutions, with ShopSafe's advanced Alert crime intelligence platform and smart communication systems. Find out about the options and opportunities for the safety and security of your business this year - https://assistsecurity.co.uk/ Email: sales@assistsecurity.co.uk or call 0208 543 6670.