Food retailer Iceland provide nearly 1,000 safe spaces for those in need of help

Approximately 1,000 Iceland stores across the country are now part of the National Business Crime Centre’s award winning Safe Spaces Scheme, otherwise known as Op Portum. providing local communities with a place to go if they need help.

 The scheme, which was launched in October 2023, now has over 15,000 locations in towns and cities across the country providing a safe space for people feeling vulnerable.

Iceland joins the likes of Tesco, Asda, KFC, Cineworld, John Lewis Partnership, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer, Next, Boots and 12 of the largest private security companies in training their staff on the scheme and how to keep people safe.

Sian Roberts, Security Manager at Iceland said: ‘’Being part of Op Portum has provided key training and guidance for our retail teams and security officers to offer support for people who may be in need of help. We believe working together will create safer environments across our town centres, retail parks and local communities and in turn safer working environments for our store teams’’

NBCC lead Supt Patrick Holdaway said: “We are delighted that Iceland have signed up for the Safe Spaces scheme and demonstrated their commitment to protecting vulnerable people in the communities where they have stores. We have already received feedback from Iceland that the training has helped staff deal with a number of difficult incidents. Anything we do as police and partners together to make our communities a safer place is a positive for all.”

To find out more information and to sign up to the scheme, click this link: Safe Spaces (nbcc.police.uk)