As Bunnings faces a Federal Inquiry into its use of facial recognition technology to catch shoplifters and armed intruders, the NSW Police have unveiled a sweeping new Retail Crime Strategy aimed at curbing theft, violence, and repeat offending across the state.

In contrast to the Victorian Government — which has prioritised consumer privacy over retail security — NSW has taken a tougher stance through Operation Percentile, a policing model designed to target repeat and high-harm retail offenders.

Under the new strategy, police prosecutors will seek restriction orders to prevent known violent or repeat offenders from re-entering stores. Shoppers can also expect more high-visibility police operations, including knife scans at major retail precincts.

The crackdown comes amid a disturbing rise in violence, with more than 800,000 incidents of aggression, abuse, or assault against retail workers recorded nationwide in the past year. Incidents have ranged from physical assaults and knife attacks to workers being ambushed in store aisles.

A Coordinated Statewide Response

NSW Police will establish dedicated contact points in each police region to ensure faster coordination and communication with retailers. The initiative has been developed in consultation with major industry groups, including the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA), the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), the National Retail Association (NRA), and the Shopping Centre Council.

The move follows a national campaign led by the CEOs of 22 of Australia’s biggest retail chains — including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Bunnings, Officeworks, Woolworths, Coles, Kmart, BWS, and Myer — calling for urgent government action as in-store violence has surged 700% since COVID-19.

Retail leaders have demanded measures such as Workplace Protection Orders, a dedicated police retail crime taskforce in every state, and a digital reporting platform for non-urgent offences.

Operation Percentile Goes Statewide

Initially launched in Sydney’s CBD in August last year, Operation Percentile has already charged 1,080 offenders with more than 1,395 offences, recovering nearly $1 million in stolen stock. Following its success, the Minns Government will now expand the program statewide.

Police prosecutors will also apply for Place Restriction Orders as a bail condition to keep repeat offenders out of retail premises. Intelligence-led policing operations will be used to track and disrupt organised retail theft, supported by monthly briefings with major retailers to identify emerging threats.

Industry Applause and Legislative Backing.

The initiative has been welcomed by both the ARA and NRA, who praised the government’s “genuine leadership” in tackling what they describe as a retail crime crisis.

“Retail crime is at crisis levels across Australia,” said ARA CEO Chris Rodwell. “Our frontline workers are facing unacceptable levels of aggression, abuse, and assault — and the cost to retailers now exceeds $9 billion a year, ultimately driving up prices for every consumer.”

Rodwell added that data from crime intelligence platform Auror shows 10% of offenders account for around 60% of all harm, underscoring the importance of focusing on repeat criminals.

The NSW Government has also backed up the policing initiative with tougher penalties under the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Retail Workers) Bill 2023, and new tools such as knife scanning and place-based restrictions for offenders.

“People should feel safe when they go to work or shop,” Rodwell said. “We commend NSW for listening to industry and acting decisively. It’s now time for other states — especially Victoria — to follow suit.”

A Call for National Reform

The ARA and NRA are urging all states and territories to adopt best-practice protective measures, including Workplace Protection Orders, Jack’s Law, and innovative technology such as facial recognition to assist in identifying and preventing repeat offenders.

They argue that technology-driven policing, supported by systems like Auror’s retail crime intelligence software, can help direct resources to the most prolific and organised offenders.