Preventing and responding to crime is a pervasive issue for jewellery business owners for obvious reasons. In recent years, amid seemingly never-ending economic pressures, it’s become an increasingly hot talking point.
In Australia, the rollout of Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) has been closely followed from state to state, providing business owners with a new layer of protection against repeat offenders. Other issues, including ram raids, continue to generate headlines. In Western Australia, retail representatives welcomed a trial of futuristic facial recognition technology.
Increasing concern about safety and security is not a uniquely Australian phenomenon. New Zealand is in the midst of controversy surrounding the proposed implementation of new ‘citizen’s arrest’ legislation, as it tackles a crime wave. In the US, recent research even revealed that consumers blamed ‘inflation’ for an increasing desire to shoplift.
With those sorts of concerns in mind, Expertise Events has introduced a new Safety and Security Zone to the floor of the Sydney Fair.
Managing director Gary Fitz-Roy said that it would be a showcase of the latest innovations, services, and technologies designed to help retailers and suppliers protect their businesses.
"This is a project we've been working on for a number of years, and we decided that now was the right time to start," he told Jeweller.
"Safety and security are obviously big talking points in a number of parts of Australia at the moment.
"It's something that is always front of mind for jewellery store owners, and we want to provide a space for visitors to learn about the ways they can improve safety for their stores, employees, and themselves."
The International Jewellery Fair will be hosted at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sydney from 22-24 August 2026.
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