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Partners |
What can they contribute? |
What’s in it for them? |
Possible constraints |
Examples/contacts |
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Police |
Data/intelligence, including information on repeat victimization, photographs of suspects and protocols for their use Law enforcement Public reassurance Advice on designing out crime Problem-oriented policing Intelligence-led policing Schools liaison
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Help from other agencies to reduce crime. Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value. Potential impact on overall recorded crime. Responding to concerns of business. Attaining local and national targets. |
Traditional focus on enforcement rather than prevention – though this is changing Capacity to manage/process data. Data protection Resource implications and costs |
Bradford’s crime reduction strategy includes extending the existing repeat victimisation scheme to include victims of commercial burglary. Contact: Insp Hopwood 01247 617072 Thames Valley Police are committed to raising the profile of business crime, both within the organisation and within local communities. The Force has set up a Business Crime Centre and appointed a Business Crime Liaison Officer. Projects include:
Contact: Thames Valley Police on 01865 846000 |
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Local businesses |
Local knowledge and experience of crime. Feedback on workable solutions. Expertise, e.g. in project planning, project management or specific technologies. Information sharing – including collation of intelligence databases Participation, e.g. in retail crime operations Resources |
Reduced crime improves profitability/ keeps businesses viable / reduces stress on staff. Benefits arising from community involvement. Access to funds |
Commercial pressures may appear to conflict with crime reduction measures. Concern about alerting potential criminals to their vulnerability. Fears that crime will be seen as a sign of mismanagement and/or that sharing information on precautions will lead to a loss of competitive edge. |
Leading retailers are working with Crime Concern on Primary Action – an initiative that engages with young people at a critical stage in their development. Contact: Youth Action Plus on 01793 863516 Blackpool, Stevenage and Worcester are among retail crime operations to have introduced exclusion notice schemes. Persistent and prolific offenders convicted of an offence are served with a notice banning them from the premises of all members of the scheme. |
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Business Links (Small Business Service from April 2001) |
Feedback from and support to local businesses. |
Retains/Improves business competitiveness. Small businesses less likely to fail Remit to promote enterprise in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
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No specific remit on reducing crimes. May have limited contact with most vulnerable businesses. |
Tenants and owners on Sandwell’s industrial estates established partnerships with the police, local council, Groundwork Trust and Environment Agency. Measures introduced included repairing and erecting new perimeter fencing and introducing a Business Security plan for each estate. Contact Mike Bushell, Business Link Sandwell. 0121 543 2209. |
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Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
Feedback from / representation of business. Advice and information to business.
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Reduced crime improves profitability/ keeps businesses viable. |
Most vulnerable businesses may not be actively involved. |
The North West London Chamber of Commerce leads the Harrow Business and Retail Crime Strategy Group. This group in turn gives direction to six ‘Business against Crime’ groups representing more local business communities. The Chamber commissioned a survey of its members, then held an open forum to find out what the fears of businesses were and what could be done about them. Contact: North West London Chamber of Commerce on 0208 4272884 As part of Coventry’s crime audit the Chamber of Commerce conducted a fax back survey of 2000 businesses in the city. The Chamber has also supported the setting up of 12 Business Action Groups, or business watches, across Coventry. Contact: See also: http://www.chamberonline.co.uk/
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National Trade Associations |
Act as focus. Able to spread good practice nationally. Power to lobby central government |
Responding to members concerns |
Members’ top priorities may not relate to crime. Most vulnerable businesses may fall outside their networks. |
The British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) was formed in 1991 by the oil industry, together with the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), Home Office Crime Prevention College and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). BOSS aims to reduce the amount of crime taking place on Britain's petrol forecourts http://www.bossuk.org |
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Industrial Estate/Business Park managers |
Details of crime, including unreported crime Feedback on customer perspective Better design and management Co-ordination of crime reduction measures on the estate/park. |
Competitive edge Crime, fear of crime and crime-related damage leads to loss of revenue and reduces the estate’s attractiveness to business. |
Concern not to fuel fear of crime/ draw attention to the problem Cost of security improvements |
The Industrial Estate Initiative on Teeside has protected the ‘whole’ of an estate through security patrol, landscaping and surveillance systems. Contact: Safe in Teeside on 01642 327351 |
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Town/City centre crime reduction partnerships |
Act as a focus for an integrated approach to crime prevention linking:
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Crime and fear of crime deter visitors, and damage town centre vitality |
Concern not to fuel fear of crime/ draw attention to the problem
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For information on the national programme, including the Safer Shopping Awards, contact the Home Office Retail Crime Reduction Action team advisers: David Leigh Tel/fax 01245 325212 Mob.07932 756271 Michael Schuck Tel 020 7647 1521 Fax 020 7647 1581 Link to practical tools |
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Regeneration Partnerships |
Business crime reduction measures as part of wider strategies for regeneration/neighbourhood renewal. Added capacity for change |
Reducing crime & fear of crime can enhance business and community vitality and encourage inward investment. Businesses have a stake in local community. |
Traditional separation between community safety and economic development. |
As part of the West Chester SRB Programme, a project has been developed to establish local networks of small businesses in residential areas. The aim is to involve small businesses in the regeneration process. Contact Barbara Coleman on 01244 402489 |
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Local Authority Economic Development/ Employment Service |
Information on no. and make-up of businesses operating in the area. Links with economic development strategy Advice and grants for local businesses. |
Reduction in (long term) unemployment Increased business competitiveness |
Traditional separation between community safety and economic development. |
Bolton Council’s Economic and Physical Development Unit has a team of 4 working on the Bolton Business Security Initiative. The initiative involves the provision of detailed risk assessments, grant aid, training and research into business crime in Bolton. The team is working with the police to improve information regarding business crime by isolating recorded crimes against business from other recorded crimes. Contact: Joanne Beaumont on 01204 336140 |
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Local Education Authority/ schools |
Youth empowerment programmes / Youth Action Groups involved in tackling crime problems . Action on truancy and exclusions |
Support from others to cater for/engage disaffected young people Help in meeting literacy/numeracy etc targets Links with citizenship programmes and with the global curriculum. Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value |
Pressure on staff and on the curriculum May appear to conflict with a focus on raising academic standards. |
Firth Park School’s Youth Action Group in Sheffield developed a Good to Talk Box to relay crime prevention messages effectively. The box includes a Good to Talk game which sparks lively debate and enables players to contemplate and rehearse their reactions before being faced with tough decisions in real life. The game forms on part of up to ten anti-shop theft lesson plans written into the schools PSE curriculum. Contact: Barbara Kwiecinski (Deputy Head) 0114 243 8437. Youth Action Plus on 01793 863516 A response to problems of youth nuisance in a local shopping centre included a police education programme with pupils of a nearby secondary school &further youth activities being made available from the school. These initiatives formed part of a co-ordinated response including CCTV, advice on better lighting, cutting back overgrown hedgerows around access points and paths and training of shop staff.
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Local Authority Social Services |
Targeted work with vulnerable families and with young people in the looked after sector |
Help in achieving national target to reduce offending of young people in the ‘looked after’ sector. Multi-agency support for vulnerable families Fulfilling requirements of section 17 / Best Value. |
Pressure of child protection work consumes resources. Concerns about stigmatising vulnerable groups. |
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Local Authority Planning, Environmental and Property Services |
Build security measures into the redevelopment of existing property, and design and construction of new buildings. Crime prevention guidelines for developers Design improvements when business parks/industrial estates are developed. Can require a crime impact analysis in any planning application |
Well run neighbourhoods cost less. Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value Commitment in recent comprehensive spending review to require local authorities to screen planning applications for their crime implications with help from the police. |
Sevices may involve several different providers Scope is greatest in new developments or major re-developments |
Partnership initiatives in Eastleigh include work with applicants for planning permission to design out crime in new buildings and implement a series of measures which will discourage crime while preserving an attractive and accessible town centre. |
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Local Authority Direct Services and other ‘direct services’ companies. |
An ‘extra pair of eyes’ in information sharing schemes e.g. Radio Links. |
Improved personal safety for street cleaning operators. |
May be seen as outside job descriptions
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Street cleaning company ‘Green Machine’ has joined businesses and police in the Dumfries Radio Link scheme. Green Machine operators have a direct link with the police, so improving their own personal safety as well as providing information to the police and businesses. Contact PC Dick Reade : 01387 260555 |
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Local Authority Housing / Housing Association Private Sector Housing |
Effective neighbourhood management. Role for area managers & neighbourhood wardens in providing information / identifying and dealing business crime. Safe estate agreements and community contracts. |
Housing in areas with less crime is easier to let, with more rent income. Viable local shops make an area more attractive for potential tenants. Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value |
May lack direct influence over/contact with business tenants.
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Glasgow, Hemel Hempstead, Hyndburn and Stockport are among those employing town or city centre wardens. See http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/ for guidance on schemes |
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LA Leisure/ Cultural services |
Targeted outreach sport and leisure activities |
Increased use of local services Less crime |
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Local Authority Trading standards/ Consumer protection |
Regulation of the market, e.g. In stolen goods Information / inspection / enforcement against rogue traders Advice to potential purchasers |
Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value |
No powers of arrest Enforcement may work best in joint operations with the police |
Medway Council is working with the police, the business community and other partner organisations on Radium, an innovative campaign to cut down stolen goods passing through shops. Shops taking part in a Commercial Outlet scheme will only buy second hand goods if the seller meets certain conditions. The police and Trading Standards make regular visits, including to shops outside the scheme. The scheme is being assessed by researchers from Kent University. Plans are underway to involve pubs and taxi-drivers also in targeting stolen goods. Contact: Adrian Gowan, 01634 332886; Sgt Robin Wharfe 01634 827055. |
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Local Authority Youth Service and voluntary youth services |
Youth diversion projects Projects involving young people in reducing crime |
Young people are equal partners Focus on youth crime may help to get resources |
Youth service has had many resource cuts Concern that crime-focused, targeted youth work may stigmatise young people
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The Youth Action Shopping Centre Programme brings young people, the public and business sectors together into local learning partnerships to tackle shop theft and retail crime. The scheme, a partnership between Prudential and Crime Concern, is currently supported by shopping centres from East Kilbride to Maidstone. Case studies are at: www.crimeconcern.org.uk/index1.asp Or contact: Youth Action Plus on 01793 863516 |
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Fire & Rescue Services |
Work with businesses to identify arson prevention and fire safety measures. Raising awareness of the dangers of fire for children, young people and their families.
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Reduction in calls arising from business arson Fulfilling the requirements of S17/ Best Value |
Resources |
Cheshire Fire Brigade’s Community Fire Safety Centre in Warrington aims to co-ordinate activities, run campaigns and ensure effective use of resources. The Centre works with businesses to improve fire safety and raise awareness of arson prevention measures. Contact: Kevin Hughes on 01925 639129 |
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Probation Service |
Work to challenge offending behaviour. Community service |
Mobilising other agencies for effective interventions to reduce rates of reconviction. Opportunities to enhance offenders’ basic skills/employability. |
Work focused on a relatively small number of persistent offenders
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Race equality councils / multi-agency panels for reporting and recording racist incidents |
Information on crimes and incidents against businesses seen as having a racial motivation. Help in co-ordinating support for / protection of victims. |
Help in addressing racist incidents. |
Problems of under-reporting. Multi-agency reporting arrangements still at an early stage of development in some cases. |
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Youth Offending Teams |
Intensive work with young offenders/young people at risk of offending, e.g. Youth Inclusion Projects / interventions linked to the range of new orders introduced in the Crime & Disorder Act. |
Support from other agencies for criminality prevention/ early intervention. Opportunities to enhance young peoples’ skills/employability. |
Many teams are still relatively new / may need time to build relationships and develop programmes. Competing priorities |
Eastleigh Town Centre Community Safety Partnership are working with the Youth Offending Team on the use of reparation orders, particularly in relation to shoplifting. www.eastleigh.gov.uk/strategy/beaconcouncil/
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CrimeStoppers |
Targeted publicity to encourage crime reporting. |
Increased coverage/promotion of campaign. |
Pressure on resources |
Call: 020 8877 0337 |
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Drug Action Teams |
Referral and treatment programmes for offenders with problem drug use
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Commitment to reduce levels of repeat offending amongst drug abusing offenders by 25% by 2005. |
Heavy pressure on available drug treatment services, though these are now expanding. |
Evaluation of three proactive arrest referral schemes in Southwark, Derby and Brighton found sharp falls in the number of shop lifting and other offences committed by participants on schemes. Link to Drugs Prevention Initiative Paper 23 |
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Insurers and finance houses |
Encouragement/ incentives to business owners to improve security
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Fewer claims |
Action by one insurer may benefit all: no competitive advantage |
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Local Media and business magazines |
Awareness raising Good news stories Deterrence |
Public interest Advertising revenue |
Business crimes may appear impersonal. |
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Neighbourhood watch/ crime prevention panels |
Awareness raising Property marking |
Business crime affects the community and its reputation
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Impact depends on the time and commitment put in by volunteers Coverage may not extend to businesses / businesses themselves may lack time to get involved. |
See http://www.neighbourhoodwatch.uk.com/for more information |
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Volunteers |
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Help in creating a safer community. |
Need to put time into recruitment/oversight/support and opportunities. |
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Victim Support
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One to one support for victims Feedback from victims on impact of crimes. |
Chance to offer the victim’s perspective. Raised profile, including with business |
Pressures on resources |
Victim Support Scotland have produced a publication called ‘Coping with a Major Crime at Work’ Contact Victim Support Scotland on 0131 668 4486 Victim Support (England & Wales) 0207 735 9166 |