Postcards to provide ‘top tips’ on crime prevention for the businesses have been launched by the Home Office.
The ‘Putting Crime out of Business’, postcards provide step-by-step advice and tips for all types of business on how to protect their staff from violence, tackle anti-social behaviour, protect their stock and prevent fraud, said Home Office Minister Hazel Blears.
She said: "The Government is determined to tackle business crime, which can and does affect businesses of all sizes. Businesses are at the heart of our communities, providing jobs and boosting the local economy. But crime can have a heavy impact – reducing profitability, increasing the fear of crime and, in extreme cases, threatening the viability of businesses. We have listened to the business community who have said that they want simple, straightforward advice on crime prevention. These postcards will provide them with good advice about what they can do to help themselves in the fight against crime and where to go for further crime prevention advice. We take business crime seriously but it is vital that we work with the business community and others to tackle crime. I hope that by taking these measures on board businesses will help reduce crime against themselves and the wider community."
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "Business crime is a very serious issue for our members and these postcards will prove a useful tool in helping firms to prevent crime. They highlight a number of relatively simple, yet effective, actions that businesses can take in order to protect their people and their property. It is important that Chambers of Commerce work with the police and local authorities in order to ensure that this advice reaches as wide a business audience as possible."
The postcards were developed with a business-led forum which is looking at the provision of advice and information for businesses. The Home Office Advice and Information Working Group (AIWG) is chaired by the Association of Convenience Stores and other members include Asian Trader, British Chambers of Commerce, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, Rural Shops Alliance and the Small Business Council. The AIWG will assist in disseminating the postcards. They will also be distributed to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, police Crime Prevention officers and regional Business Crime Reduction Advisers and are available to all businesses free of charge on request. Copies of the postcards can be ordered free from the Home Office by contacting 0870 2414680 or e-mailing [email protected] The postcards can be found on the Crime Reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk and a PDF of the postcards is available on the Home Office website at
