The Dover, Deal and Sandwich Partnership Against Crime (DPAC) Safer Business Award presentation took place on board the P&O Ferry Pride of Calais while it was berthed at Calais.
The Association of Business Crime Partnerships (ABCP) regional manager Sandy Hobbs, who presented DPAC with their distinction SBA, praised the partnership for the way it operates, the systems it has in place to help prevent and detect shoplifters, and for the secure website which keeps members up to date with criminals’ activities, and allows them to report incidents and share target photos on-line. <br><br>’I was delighted to present the partnership with their award in this novel manner. DPAC embraces all that is effective in partnership working and has achieved some excellent results which has helped to reduce crime in the area.'<br><br>DPAC chairman Graham Tutthill said: ‘P&O Ferries are active members of the partnership and we are delighted to have our presentation supported by them in this way. DPAC was among the first in the country to receive the Safer Shopping and Safer Socialising Awards, and we are delighted to have been named as one of the best in the country. Of course, a lot of our success is due to the hard work of our co-ordinator Karen Griffiths.<br><br>’The partnership is a very effective body which works with the police, CCTV control room and the council to prevent crime and detain those who commit offences. Shoplifting is sometimes described as a victimless crime, but it isn’t. Shops have a right to carry on their business without having goods stolen. Losses through theft affect the price everyone has to pay for their goods. We also work with the police and council on the Three Strikes scheme which targets those who commit alcohol-fuelled offences. Again this is a very successful scheme and has been copied by authorities in other parts of the country.'<br><br>DPAC started as Shopwatch in 1995 with 12 stores in Dover and there are now 150 members in Dover, Deal and Sandwich, including shops, offices, pubs, clubs, train stations, a school and cross-channel ferry operators. Kent police and Port of Dover police are also members of the partnership.<br><br>DPAC can be contacted on 01304 218172, or via www.dpac.org.uk
