Tackling anti-social behaviour using IoT sensors

This user story illustrates how Senoptic’s AI analytics and IoT sensor technology can help retail organisations achieve their behaviour-driven strategic goals. By leveraging real-time data to monitor customer behaviour and operational conditions, Senoptic enables retailers to proactively address issues such as anti-social behaviour and enhance overall store safety.

Behaviour-Driven Strategic Goals

• Reduce antisocial behaviour. Proactively prevent vandalism, theft, and unauthorised smoking/vaping in the shopping centre.
• Enhance visitor experience. By reducing disruptive behaviour, the shopping centre becomes a safer, cleaner, and more attractive for visitors and tenants.
• Lower operational costs. Minimise the costs associated with property damage, clean-ups, and security staff redeployment by identifying and stopping incidents before they escalate.

Target Behaviour

Detecting antisocial behaviour, particularly vandalism, theft, and smoking/vaping in restricted areas such as bathrooms and back corridors. These behaviours typically manifest as loud noises, tampering with property, and unauthorised activities like smoking or vaping.

Current Process

Security personnel manually monitor shopping centre cameras and patrol the premises, reacting to incidents once they are reported or after damage has been done. Identifying antisocial behaviour often happens too late, resulting in costly repairs, damaged property, and a negative visitor experience. Security officers rely on CCTV monitoring, which is impractical for one person to manage effectively across a large space.

"Security patrols the shopping centre and monitors CCTV to detect antisocial behaviour, responding after incidents occur."

Future Process with Senoptic:

With Senoptic’s IoT sensors integrated into bathrooms and back corridors, security staff can receive live alerts whenever unusual behaviour is detected. The sensors, powered by AI, can identify smoking or vaping, loud noises, and other signals linked to potential vandalism or theft. These real-time alerts allow security to intervene before damage occurs. The system’s predictive analytics also help identify high-risk times and locations, enabling preemptive actions such as increased patrols during specific hours or in particular areas.

• "Security uses real-time alerts from IoT sensors to proactively prevent vandalism, theft, and smoking in unauthorised areas."

Outcomes

• Proactive prevention: With real-time data from IoT sensors, security staff can intervene before antisocial behaviour results in property damage or theft. This reduces repair and replacement costs.
• Enhanced security coverage: IoT sensors provide 24/7 monitoring in key areas (bathrooms, back corridors), allowing security teams to focus on more strategic tasks rather than constantly patrolling.
• Improved visitor experience: A cleaner, safer shopping centre encourages repeat visits, enhances the facility’s reputation, and improves customer satisfaction, benefiting tenants and the centre management.
• Data-driven insights: The Senoptic system identifies behaviour patterns, helping the shopping centre’s management understand when and where antisocial incidents are most likely to occur, allowing for better planning and resource allocation.

Who Benefits?

Shopping Centre Management: Benefits from reduced costs related to vandalism, theft, and clean-up, while maintaining a positive reputation as a safe and secure shopping destination.


Security Teams: Experience a more efficient and effective workflow, with IoT sensors assisting in incident detection and reducing the need for constant manual monitoring.


Tenants/Shop Owners: Gain from reduced disruptions to business and fewer security-related incidents, which improves customer satisfaction and reduces operational downtime.


Customers/Visitors: Enjoy a cleaner, safer shopping environment, which increases the likelihood of returning and spending more time in the centre.


Facilities Management: Experiences lower maintenance costs and fewer disruptions related to repairs, graffiti removal, and unauthorised smoking/vaping cleanup.



Wider Impact

By deploying Senoptic’s IoT sensor solution, the shopping centre reduces incidents of antisocial behaviour, enhancing the overall shopping experience. This leads to a safer environment, increasing foot traffic, customer loyalty, and tenant satisfaction while lowering the costs associated with damage control and facility repairs. The centre becomes a more attractive venue for new businesses and potential clients, reinforcing its position as a premier destination for shopping, dining, and leisure activities.

Senoptic’s solution addresses immediate security concerns and provides long-term strategic advantages by creating a safer, more enjoyable environment for everyone.

Schedule a consultation now and speak with a Senoptic Retail specialist to learn how Senoptic can help you unlock the full potential of your behaviour data.