LONDON, 15 Aug. 2626 — WLS, a leading fire and security systems specialist with more than 40 years of experience, today reported a significant increase in demand for integrated access control systems in the first half of 2026, as UK businesses respond to a sustained and well-documented rise in commercial crime. Enquiries for access control solutions that integrate with existing security and fire safety infrastructure have risen sharply, with clients across retail, commercial property, logistics and healthcare among those seeking more comprehensive protection for their premises.
The increase in enquiries reflects a growing and increasingly urgent picture for UK businesses. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shoplifting offences in England and Wales reached 530,643 in the year ending March 2025 — the highest level since police recording practices began in 2003 and a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. Business property robberies rose by 52 per cent in the 12 months to June 2024, reaching a record 12,000 cases according to ONS data, whilst the most recent Commercial Victimisation Survey found that 45 per cent of UK business premises experienced at least one criminal incident in the preceding 12 months. In London, the picture is particularly acute: shoplifting offences in the capital rose by 54 per cent in 2024 alone.
Against this backdrop, WLS has observed a clear shift in how businesses are approaching security investment. Rather than treating access control, CCTV, intruder detection and fire safety as separate systems managed in isolation, an increasing number of clients are seeking unified, integrated platforms that provide complete visibility and control across their entire security estate from a single interface. This approach not only simplifies day-to-day management but significantly enhances the speed and effectiveness of the response when an incident occurs.
WLS designs and implements integrated access control solutions that combine physical security hardware with advanced software platforms, enabling real-time monitoring, centralised user management and comprehensive audit trails from a single dashboard. The company’s systems are compatible with leading industry platforms including Genetec, Gallagher and Paxton, and can be configured to integrate with existing CCTV, intruder alarm and fire safety infrastructure — protecting the client’s prior investment whilst materially enhancing its effectiveness. For organisations operating across multiple sites, WLS’s multi-site access control capability extends this unified management approach across entire property portfolios.
The value of integration is particularly evident in the response to active incidents. Where a traditional standalone access control system might log an unauthorised entry event in isolation, an integrated platform can simultaneously trigger CCTV recording, alert security personnel, initiate intruder alarm protocols and — where configured to do so — interface with fire safety systems to ensure safe evacuation procedures are not compromised. This joined-up response capability is increasingly regarded by clients not as a premium add-on, but as a fundamental requirement of any modern security installation.
WLS has seen heightened demand across a broad range of sectors in H1 2026, with retail operators, commercial landlords, educational institutions and healthcare facilities amongst the most active. All WLS access control installations are delivered by fully accredited in-house engineering teams and are underpinned by the company’s NSI Gold accreditation and ISO certifications — providing clients with the assurance that every system is designed, installed and commissioned to the most rigorous industry standards. Comprehensive maintenance and support contracts are available across the full range of integrated solutions.
“The data on commercial crime in the UK makes for sobering reading, and we are seeing the impact of that picture directly in the volume and nature of enquiries we are receiving,” said Jeremy Ewen, Managing Director of WLS. “Businesses are no longer asking whether they need access control — they are asking how to make it work harder and smarter alongside the security infrastructure they already have. Integrated systems are the answer to that question, and our ability to design, install and support those systems across single sites and complex multi-site estates is exactly what the market needs right now.”

About WLS
With over 40 years of experience, WLS provides comprehensive fire safety and security solutions for commercial and residential clients across London and the South East. From high-security access control and CCTV to fire alarm systems and automated gates, WLS delivers bespoke consultation, installation, and maintenance services that prioritise safety, compliance and reliability.

For media inquiries:
Contact: Elliott Martin
Tel: 0208 676 4300
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.wls.ltd/