New police-backed safety guide for travel agents
ABTA has joined with the metropolitan police to produce a comprehensive guide to improve safety and security for travel agents.
Ten other organisations have also contributed to the guide, published today by the Travel Agent and Bureau Security Forum (TABS), which tells agents how to minimise risk in the workplace and how best to tackle an incident.
ABTA chairman and Advantage Travel Centres chief executive John McEwan said: "There are many types of crime that affect businesses but few affect a business and its staff in quite the same way as an armed robbery.
"This can be damaging to a business but more importantly, very traumatic for those people unfortunate enough to be caught up in it.
"The TABS Forum was set up with the aim of producing best practice for the industry on combating this type of crime and I am pleased to be part of the Forum in my roles at both Advantage and ABTA.
"I can't stress enough how important this advice is and would encourage travel agency staff at all levels to read this guide and help keep this type of crime out of our industry."
Only last week, two robbers stole a large amount of cash from a Thomson travel agency in Hitchin in Hertfordshire.
The guide includes tips, such as regularly checking staff toilets as robbers have been known to use these as hiding places.
Chair of the TABS Forum Trevor Davis said: "I am delighted that this cross-industry panel has been formed to work together and reduce incidents that blight our industry. While many travel agents already have security measures in place, others may not and this guide to improving safety and security will be a useful tool which will help reduce crime against travel agents."
The TABS guide is available in the Resources section of abta.com under Publications.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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