Local police showcase Safer Business Action Week

Work to tackle shoplifting across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, was showcased last week, as West Mercia Police supported Safer Business Action Week (SaBA). 

The annual week, which this year ran from Monday 10 November until Sunday 16 November, aims to raise awareness of business-related crime, including shoplifting, burglary and anti-social behaviour. 

West Mercia Police has seen a fall of 6% in shoplifting which can be attributed to range of factors including the proactive and robust approach taken to reduce business crime. 

This focus is also part of ongoing efforts to deliver safer town centres, as set out in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer Communities Plan. 

Throughout the week, officers across the force used the opportunity to highlight to local businesses the support available and offer crime prevention advice. 

PC Paul Gough, Rural and Business Crime Officer for Telford, said:“Engaging with our business communities is something we do regularly and building those relationships is vital in being able to deal with business related crime.“We focused some our efforts on areas and businesses that have been victim to recent break-ins, to provide further reassurance and update them on how investigations were progressing.“We also gave out some window and door alarms to the small businesses and spoke to them about security and any issues they are facing. One business we visited had previously had some issues with ASB and the use of off-road bikes near their premises. The staff there noticed we had been patrolling that area and had seen the issue ease.” 

Officers also worked with partners, such as local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and council leaders, to identify how issues can be resolved in a joint working approach.  

The Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) in Worcester and the local BID officers attended retail stores in the city to share information on the “banned from one, banned from all” shoplifting scheme.  

The initiative prevents an offender from entering any other participating business if they are banned from one of them and aims to reduce the amount of shoplifting in an area.  

Worcester SNT, as well as other local policing teams, carried out plain clothes and uniformed patrols to target known shoplifters.  

The Shop Watch schemes was also refreshed and businesses reminded of the benefits with new members signed up. 

Shop Watch schemes are partnerships between local businesses, the police and other agencies such as local authorities to support communities against retail-related crime.  

Members of the scheme receive: 

Inspector Tanya Beckett for Worcester SNT said:

“We welcome the annual Safer Business Action Week as it gives our local policing teams the opportunity to highlight the work that goes on all year round to combat and deter the crime that impacts our business communities most.“Officers have been continuing to build relationships with those communities to strengthen trust and communication.  “Hotspot patrols are also carried out across the force all year round and focus on targeted areas where we know crime occurs. These are often in the heart of towns and cities and will see businesses and its staff affected. “We hope by continuing in our efforts to deter crime and through thorough investigations, we can have further positive effects on business crime.” 

The Police and Crime Commissioner has this week held an online event for all the BIDs across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.  

PCC John Campion said: “Our town centres are the heart of our communities, and my priority is to support West Mercia Police and partners in making them places where you are safe, you feel safe, and local businesses thrive.“Whilst we continue to make progress, there’s still more to do. That’s why I remain focused on listening and delivering for the public, whether that’s my investment into dedicated town centre policing teams or strengthening partnerships with local BIDs.”  

SmartWater property marking packs were also handed out to local businesses. 

SmartWater is part of the ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ initiative, West Mercia Police’s response to tackling acquisitive crime, and makes it easier to reunite stolen items with the owner. 

We Don’t Buy Crime is supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner and puts prevention at the heart of day-to-day policing. Find out more here: Home - West Mercia Police (wedontbuycrime.co.uk)