Lewisham Borough Business Against Crime (LBBAC), a business crime reduction partnership (BCRP), announces that it has reduced town centre crime by 62 per cent, as a result of using NBIS (National Business Intelligence System) from Hicom, with targeted policing strategies and crime education initiatives throughout the south London borough.
NBIS is a web-based data sharing technology developed by software firm Hicom. Using NBIS, LBBAC is able to share data on offenders between retailers, the Police and other crime reduction agencies nationwide, helping to ensure the borough remains a safe area for visitors, business owners and residents.
Martyn Grover, Business Crime Reduction Partnership Manager, says: โWe originally implemented NBIS approximately two years ago to help us track and record criminal incidents that were happening within the borough. Using NBIS we are able to input the details of each incident that happens and then share this information with the Police and local retailers. Using this intelligence we can then raise awareness of individuals committing particular crimes and provide retailers with advice on what preventative measures they should put in place. For example, if a pair of distraction thieves are operating in the town centre, we can issue an alert to all local retailers advising them to be on their guard,โ explains Grover. โIf we have images available of the offenders then we are also able to share these with partnership members and the Police so that everyone can be aware of whom these people are and take the appropriate action.โ
As a result of using NBIS as part of a targeted Policing strategy, LBBAC has experienced a 62pc year on year reduction in business crime throughout the borough, and has cut anti-social behaviour in the town centre by 67pc compared to last year. Grover adds: โOver the past two years we have forged a great relationship with the town centre policing team and have been using NBIS as our primary intelligence sharing system. In tandem, we have also been hosting a high profile education initiative within the local schools which has been highly successful, resulting in a 67pc reduction in anti-social behaviour in the town centre. The aim of LBBAC is to make Lewisham a safer place to live, work and visit. By working in partnership with the local authorities and NBIS we are striding ahead in our pursuit to achieve this as the figures clearly show.โ
Formed in 1986, Hicom provides risk management and crime reduction software.
