ShopSafe Alert vs SentrySIS: crime intelligence comparison
Looking at SentrySIS? See the whole system.
SentrySIS is crime intelligence software. ShopSafe gives BIDs, BCRPs and retailers the intelligence platform and the radio network and body cameras that feed it, built and supported by one team.
See the side-by-side comparison
What’s the difference between ShopSafe Alert and SentrySIS?
ShopSafe Alert and SentrySIS both let partnerships and retailers report incidents, build offender profiles and galleries, manage exclusions, alert members and share intelligence with the police, with facial recognition where it's enabled. The difference is what sits around the software: ShopSafe also supplies the partnership's radio network, turns radio calls into draft incidents with Signal, uploads body camera footage straight into Alert, and can run your intelligence function for you on the Managed package. SentrySIS is stronger on direct-to-police evidence packs, with MG11 witness statements used with several forces, and offers ANPR vehicle alerts and link analysis.
| Feature | ShopSafe Alert | SentrySIS |
|---|---|---|
| Radio | ShopSafe supplies and runs the partnership's radio network. Signal records and transcribes calls and sends incidents into Alert as drafts for review | Radios not advertised; works alongside a partnership's own radio network |
| Body worn cameras | ShopSafe ONE footage uploads over 4G into Alert and is linked to offender profiles | Not advertised; CCTV, images and video can be added to incidents |
| Incident reporting | About 60 seconds on a phone, tablet or PC, with photos | Incident reports with profiles, vehicles, images and CCTV, on a web portal and iOS and Android apps |
| Offenders and exclusions | Offender database, exclusions, known associates and galleries, showing who has been active in the last 30 days | Known and unknown offenders, linked profiles and vehicles, galleries grouped by location, exclusion scheme management |
| Facial recognition | Compass AI and facial matching on Pro and Managed, configured in line with your DPIA | Facial recognition “where authorised and enabled” |
| Links between offenders | Known associates, Investigations, and Compass AI suggesting the crime groups behind repeat offending | Kaleidoscope link analysis across people, vehicles, locations and incident types; ANPR vehicle alerts with OnSite Alert |
| National retailer data | ShopSafe runs Alert for national retailers including JD, Matalan and Co-op. With the retailer's agreement, their incidents are shared into your partnership | An API lets national retailers feed their crime data into SentrySIS installations |
| Police | Officers get Alert on their phones at no cost to the force; used with Suffolk, Nottinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire police | Direct-to-police evidence packs with MG11 witness statements and CCTV, used with Durham, Hampshire & IoW and Devon & Cornwall |
| Member communication | Bulletins to every member at once and secure group messaging | Push alerts, plus Connect Live secure chat and video calls for up to 25 |
| Run it for you | Managed package: our data analyst team manages incident and offender data, builds intelligence packs and onboards members | Not advertised |
| Training | E-learning portal, with onboarding and training from our team | iLearn videos of 3 to 8 minutes inside the platform |
| Security | ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials, UK hosting in Police Assured Secure Facilities | ISO 27001, UK hosting in Police Assured Secure Facilities; Cyber Essentials not advertised |
| Pricing | Essential, Pro and Managed packages, priced by partnership size | Not published |
SentrySIS may suit you if your priority is sending evidence packs with MG11 statements straight to a force that already takes them, if you need ANPR vehicle alerts or link analysis, or if you already have a radio network you're happy with.
SentrySIS information is taken from its public website on 27 September 2026. “Not advertised” means we couldn’t find the feature listed there. SentrySIS is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to identify the product being compared. Spotted something out of date? Email sales@shopsafe.io.
See everything ShopSafe Alert does
Packages, police sharing, facial matching and national retailer data on the Alert page, or book a demo with your own partnership's data.
Why teams choose ShopSafe Alert
Software, radio and cameras together
The radio network, body cameras and intelligence platform come from one supplier, so radio calls and footage end up in Alert without re-keying.
Learn moreThe big chains' data, shared in
National retailers already record their incidents in Alert. With their agreement, that data reaches your partnership and store teams only report once.
Learn moreHand the intelligence work to us
On the Managed package our data analysts look after your incident and offender data, build intelligence packs and onboard new members.
Learn moreBuilt by our own team
We're the only radio company with an in-house software team, which is how Signal came about. Alert, radio and ONE keep improving together.
Learn moreWhat your members and team will use
Engagement is the biggest challenge for most partnerships, and members only keep reporting if it is quick.
Report in about 60 seconds
Members open the app on a phone, tablet or the shop PC, add what happened and a photo, and everyone nearby is notified.
Offenders known across the town
Offender profiles, exclusions and known associates, with galleries showing who has been active in the last 30 days.
Run the partnership from one screen
Bulletins to every member, secure group messaging, the activity feed and approvals in the Alert web app.
From the radio into Alert, without re-keying
Signal records and transcribes every radio call and groups calls into incidents. Those incidents come into Alert as drafts for your team to review before anything about an individual is shared. It is included at no cost with every ShopSafe community safety radio system.
- RecordEvery callSearchable, ready to play back and download.
- TranscribeEvery wordCalls turned into text you can read and search.
- AnalyseAI on each callCategory, priority and a plain-English summary.
- GroupIncidentsRelated calls threaded into one incident.
- ActReports and AlertBoard-ready reports, and incidents sent into Alert.
Alert packages for every partnership
Start with the essentials, add enhanced features as you grow, or hand your whole intelligence function to our team.
Essential
For new and smaller BIDs and BCRPs. Everything you need to get going and stay compliant, self-managed with our e-learning portal.
Includes:- Incident reporting and alerts
- Offender profiles and exclusions
- Instant messaging
- Bulletins
- Unlimited users for up to 50 businesses
- E-learning portal
Pro
For growing and established partnerships. Enhanced features, backed by our customer success team.
Everything in Essential, plus:- Investigations
- Compass AI and facial matching
- Third-party sharing
- Customisation and your own branding
- Automated workflows
- Customer success team
Managed
Hand your BCRP intelligence function to our dedicated data analyst and customer success teams.
Everything in Pro, plus:- Incident and offender data managed for you
- Intelligence packs built and shared
- Full data compliance
- New users onboarded and trained
- Engagement and member growth managed
- Dedicated data analyst team
The big chains’ data, shared with your partnership
ShopSafe runs Alert for national retailers under enterprise contracts. With the retailer’s agreement, what their stores record is shared straight into your partnership, so store teams report once and you see incidents that rarely reach a BID.
Partnerships already on Alert
Moving over without the risk
Time it to your renewal
Tell us when your current contract ends and we'll plan the move so you're not paying for two systems.
Members onboarded for you
We set up your partnership, train members and, on the Managed package, onboard every new user for you.
Bring the police with you
We set up officer access with your force at no cost to them, so police intelligence keeps flowing from day one.
We’ll plan the move around your current contract.
Questions about switching
- Can ShopSafe Alert replace SentrySIS?
Yes. Alert covers incident reporting, offender profiles and galleries, exclusions, member alerts, bulletins and police access. Liverpool BID Company replaced its existing system with Alert across the city.
- Do we have to change our radios to use Alert?
No. Alert works on its own. If you also move your radio network to ShopSafe, Signal is included at no cost and turns radio calls into draft incidents in Alert, so nothing about an individual is shared until a person approves it.
- Is Alert only for BIDs and BCRPs?
No. National retailers including JD, Matalan, Co-op and Hobbycraft use Alert to manage their own incidents, and shopping centres and security teams use it too. Retailers can share their data into local partnerships with their agreement.
- What happens to our data if we switch?
Your partnership is the data controller for the intelligence in your current system; SentrySIS describes itself as the data processor. Agree an export with them before your contract ends, and we'll plan the move to Alert with you.
- How much does Alert cost?
It depends on the size of your partnership and the package: Essential, Pro or Managed. Book a demo and we'll put together options for your scheme.
See Alert working for your partnership
We'll show you an incident reported in a minute, an offender gallery, a bulletin going out to every member, and a radio call arriving as a draft incident.
Or call 0870 240 5538
