Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Abbreviation or Acronym

Full format of abbreviation or acronym

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AACDU

Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit

Now Public Order and Crime Issues Unit. See also ASBU for anti-social behaviour.

AADU

Action Against Drugs Unit

Now part of the Drugs Strategy Directorate, Drug Legislation and Enforcement Unit

ABHM

Association of Building Hardware Manufacturers

The association covers Britain's leading manufacturers of builders hardware, architectural ironmongery and door and window fittings. http://www.abhm.org.uk/

ABI

Association of British Insurers

The ABI is the trade association for the UK's insurance industry. It represents around 400 companies covering around 95% of insurance transactions. http://www.abi.org.uk

ABI

Area-Based Initiative

ABIs are publicly funded initiatives targeted on areas of social or economic disadvantage, which aim to improve the quality of life of residents and/or their future life chances and those of their children. The work of ABIs is coordinated by the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) http://www.rcu.gov.uk

ABI

Anti-Burglary Initiative

West Midlands Government Office abbreviation for RBI

ACC

Assistant Chief Constable

Senior rank in UK police forces, below Chief Constable or Deputy Chief Constable. http://www.acpo.police.uk

ACMD

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is a statutory and non-executive non-departmental public body, established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It is there job to monitor the use of drugs and identify the potential for misusing drugs.

ACOP

Association of Chief Officers of Probation

Now Probation Boards Association (PBA)

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers of England,
Wales & Northern Ireland

The Association was set up to develop policing policies on behalf of the Service as a whole, rather than in 44 forces separately. http://www.acpo.police.uk

ACS

Association of Convenience Stores

ACS represents the owners and managers of retail companies, who operate over 30,000 convenience stores. It aims to develop and increase knowledge of the c-store sector. >> more detail

ADDACTION

Non Government drug treatment provider

ADFAM

Non Government drug using family support

ALO

Architectural Liaison Officer

Specialist officer within UK police forces, also known as Crime Prevention Design Advisor (CPDA). They deal with crime risk and designing out crime advice for the built environment. >> more detail

ANPR

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

It works by processing images of vehicle number plates captured by video cameras and checking them against a database of vehicle numbers. >> more detail

APA

Association of Police Authorities

The APA is the national body representing police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It influences policy on policing and it supports local police authorities. >> more detail

APACS

Association for Payment Clearing Services

APACS is the UK trade association of banks and building societies which exchange payments on behalf of their customers. It also has responsibility for the co-operative aspects of money transmission and other payments-related developments. >> more detail

A/R

Arrest Referral

Arrest referral (AR) is a crime reduction initiative that seeks to identify drug users at the point of arrest, encourage them to address their drug problem and obtain appropriate treatment

ASBO

Anti-Social Behaviour Order

An order by a magistrate which prohibits the defendant from doing anything described in the order. Set up in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. >> more detail

ASBU

Anti-social Behaviour Unit

A cross-departmental unit based in the Home Office. Its role is to deliver the Anti-social Behaviour Bill and to take forward work to reduce anti-social behaviour. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/org/dob/direct/asbu.html

ATCM

Association of Town Centre Managers

Association dedicated to helping town and city centres realise their roles as prosperous locations for business and investment and as focal points for vibrant inclusive communities. http://www.atcm.org

BCC

British Chambers of Commerce

A national network of quality accredited chambers of commerce which provide support for local businesses. >> more detail

BCC

Business Crime Check

Business Crime Check was a joint Home Office and Scottish Executive initiative which sought to create, maintain and promote a database of information relevant to people who wished to reduce crime against business and publish a magazine called Communicate. The initiative was managed and funded by CGU Insurance but their withdrawal led to the demise of BCC in 2002.

BCS

British Crime Survey

BCS measures crimes against people living in private households in England and Wales. Begun in 1982 (every two years) but now annually as part of the Crime in England and Wales statistical series from the Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pubsintro1.html >> more detail

BCU

Basic Command Unit

These broadly equate to former police divisions or districts. There are currently 280 BCUs (2003) in England and Wales and recorded crime figures for six key offences at BCU level are published on the Home Office website, "Crime in England & Wales": http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html

BID

Business Improvement District

A BID is a partnership arrangement through which local authorities and the local business community can take forward schemes which will benefit the local community, subject to the agreement of ratepayers. Ratepayers will agree to pay an additional levy on their rate bill to finance a BID. Guidance (working draft) on BIDs issued by ODPM in January 2003: 
Business Improvement Districts Guidance - a working draft

BLUEPRINT

Drug Education Research Programme

Blueprint is a research programme designed to examine the effectiveness of a multi-component approach to drug education. This means that schools, parents and communities will work together to reduce the prevent and reduce the harm that drug use can cause.

BMF

British Motorcycle Federation

The BMF was formed in 1960 to represent the interests of motorcyclists. Their researchers and analysts work on any subject affecting motorcycling. They are active in Europe through the Federation of European Motorcyclist (FEMA), and Federation of International Motorcyclists (FIM). They lobby MPs, MEPs, Ministers, Commissioners and Committees to ensure that the views and concerns of their members are heard and understood by Local Authorities, national Government and the European Union.
http://www.bmf.co.uk/

BOSS

British Oil Security Syndicate

Formed in 1991, BOSS aims to reduce the incidence of crime on petrol forecourts. www.bossuk.org

BRC

British Retail Consortium

The lead trade association representing a wide range of retailers. BRC undertakes an annual survey of retail crime amongst its members.  >> more detail

BSI

British Standards Institution

BSI is an independent, non-profit distributing organisation which facilitates the creation of standards and is the UK's National Standards Body. http://www.bsi-global.com >> more detail

BVPI

Best Value Performance Indicators

A suite of indicators developed for monitoring the performance of local authorities set by the departments in central government. BVPIs have only been set since the duty of best value on local authorities came into effect under the Local Government Act 1999. Prior to best value, the Audit Commission set similar measures of performance.  >> more detail