Action Against Business Crime (AABC) and the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM), AABC and ATCM have agreed to work together to create a new national organisation to represent business crime reduction partnerships (BCRPs) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This follows discussions between the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The board will have representatives from AABC, ATCM, BCRPs, businesses and others. The new organisation will be tasked with increasing the number and quality of the work of BCRPs to ensure that they are accredited and operate lawfully and are able to work closely with local police and other agencies. The new national body has the support of both ACPO and has been welcomed by the Home Office.
Lord Dear, chairman of AABC said: “We have a proven track record of achievement and a high reputation for our work over a long period of developing business crime reduction partnerships. ATCM will bring their town centre management expertise and this unified approach means we will be able to represent all accredited business crime reduction partnerships and work with ACPO and the home office to ensure that business crime has a clear focus and that our work is recognised and supported.”
Graham Chase, chairman of ATCM said: “Tackling business crime is of key importance if we are to give the businesses in our town and city centres the best chance of surviving and growing and hence contributing to the vitality and viability of town centres. We believe this coming together of organisations, with support from different parties, will eliminate confusion and provide a new focus to support local partnerships more effectively.”
And Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas of Kent Police, the ACPO lead on business crime said: “This is a very positive move and I am delighted that we will be able to support and work with the national business crime reduction organisation in our joint efforts to reduce business crime in towns and cities. It will assist local policing to be able to work closely with accredited partnerships who are dedicated to supporting businesses, reducing the fear of crime and making their communities safer and better places.”
William Price, chief executive of AABC said: “Further details about the new organisation will be announced by Lord Dear at the AABC conference on Thursday, April 29 at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Manchester Airport. We will now be working to ensure there is a smooth transition with no gaps in our service to members. The new organisation will continue to provide the national codes of practice and accreditation process for partnerships as these are an essential element in gaining the support of ACPO and the Home Office.”
