ASEL DNA: Darker Nights Action 2025

Managing Anti-Social Behaviour and Supporting Store Closures During the Darker Months

As the clocks go back and the evenings draw in, the Autumn and Winter months bring unique challenges for retailers and their teams. Reduced daylight hours, busy seasonal events, and changing community dynamics can all contribute to an increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB), particularly around store closure times.

To help tackle this, ASEL is launching our Darker Nights Action (DNA) 2025, a week-long initiative running from 31st October to 7th November, coinciding with Halloween (Friday 31st October) and Bonfire Night (Wednesday 5th November).

This campaign is part of our ASEL DNA, our commitment to creating safe, secure, and welcoming environments for our customers, their staff, and our security colleagues.

Understanding the Challenge

Police and community safety data consistently show an increase in anti-social behaviour during the darker months. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including:

• Reduced daylight hours providing greater anonymity for offenders

• Seasonal events (Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas) often triggering nuisance behaviour such as fireworks misuse, vandalism, and noise

• Lower perceptions of safety among staff and customers

• Increased vulnerability during store closures, when staff are focused on cashing up and locking down premises after dark

Typical issues seen during this period include vandalism, graffiti, groups loitering near entrances or car parks, verbal abuse, alcohol or drug-related nuisance, and vehicle-related disturbances.

The Impact on Retail Operations

Anti-social behaviour and environmental risk factors can have a significant impact on retail operations. These include:

• Increased vulnerability of staff during closing and travel home

• Greater risk during cashing-up or locking procedures

• Disruption to store operations and delayed closures

• Reputational and legal risks if staff safety is compromised

• Financial costs arising from damage, theft, or enhanced security needs

ASEL’s Response: Darker Nights Week of Action

To provide additional support during this high-risk period, ASEL will launch the Darker Nights Week of Action across the UK from 31st October to 7th November.

This initiative aims to enhance safety, raise awareness, and strengthen collaboration across our retail partners, field colleagues, and community stakeholders.

Darker Nights Support Visits

During the week of action, ASEL management will carry out Darker Nights Awareness and Support Visits at selected retail sites nationwide.

These visits will involve:

• Managers attending stores around 30 minutes before closing to provide visible presence and reassurance

• Positive engagement with store colleagues and ASEL officers

• On-site support during final store closure and staff departures

• Coordinated planning by Zonal Operations Managers and Account Directors to ensure effective coverage

Our Vision: A Retail Sector Free from Fear

At ASEL, we’re committed to creating a retail environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported. Our approach is guided by three key objectives:

1. Safety First: Ensure secure and welcoming spaces for employees, customers, and communities.

2. Prevention Through Leadership: Tackle ASB proactively using education, restorative practice, and evidence-led intervention.

3. Collaboration for Impact: Build strong partnerships across sectors to share intelligence and deliver lasting change.

Reassurance Through Presence

While we can’t visit every store, our Darker Nights Action aims to make a tangible difference, reassuring our customers and colleagues that ASEL stands alongside them during one of the most challenging times of the retail year.

Together, we can reduce risk, promote safety, and make our communities safer as the nights grow darker.