Business Against Crime Whitehaven (BAC W) began in March 2005, and has 100 members.
BAC W Business Crime Manager Anne Lainé tells the story so far.
The extremely successful partnership combines retailers, licensees and other businesses and has a huge impact on crime reduction in the town. This year Whitehaven has been the only town in West Cumbria to see a degree in all crime categories! Violent crime has seen a decrease of 23.4 per cent. Originally piloted by the local police community team, the partnership gradually put in place protocols, good practice guidelines and insurances. Committee members were elected and a board of management set up. A Business Crime Manager was appointed, funded by the crime and disorder partnership(CDRP) (THEFT) and an office secured in the town centre with rent paid by Copeland Borough Council for three years. Office set-up costs were funded by the Cumbria Police Community Fund, Cumbria Community Foundation (via an application from the Chamber of Trade) and the Bransty and Harbourside Neighbourhood Forum. With the support of Steve Booth, Northern Crime Manager for Action Against Business Crime (AABC) Whitehaven was awarded the Safer Business Award in December 2005 and is now involved in discussions about Business Improvement District status. We are helping a neighbouring town and one in Wales who wish to follow the same route.
Radio profits
A percentage of Nortech Radio Communications profits are paid into the partnership, depending on the number of radios rented or bought. Non-radio members are encouraged to join and enjoy all other benefits for an annual subscription fee. In November 2005 day and night economies were united under the BAC W umbrella and the business crime manager administers, with Nightsafe retaining its own committee. Partnership meetings are held monthly for Nightsafe and bi-monthly for the retail sector. Both are minuted and this information distributed by the business crime manager (BCM). The board of management deals with issues to do with both economies and information is regularly shared regarding common offenders.
Photos
Both daytime and evening economies are issued with police photographs and have access to daily local intelligence and Cumbria West police intelligence. Although there is not a great deal of overlap of offenders between the two economies, surveillance and intelligence strength is doubled with both being on the same radio wave-length throughout the day and evening. The BCM and community police team officers have an overview of both economies and administration for both is done by the BCM in the town centre office. Using this partnership and radio link, first responders have been recruited and trained by Cumbria Ambulance Services from both economies. The BCM has raised funding for five defibrillators to service the town centre, manned 24-hours.
Below, Anne Lainé details the banning criteria used within Nightsafe.
The Pubwatch committee can give whatever punishment for whatever crime they think necessary, which can include a lifetime ban. Any publican can ban an individual from their own premises for whatever reason whether or not they are officially banned for specific anti-social behaviour by the Pubwatch scheme. For drunk and disorderly, a warning letter is sent out for first or second offence. On the third offence, their name is put before the committee. Normally a three-month exclusion is awarded. For ABH, an offender has a three-month interim until court case is heard. If found guilty, there is a 12 months exclusion. For GBH, a similar three-month interim and if guilty a 12 months-plus exclusion. Any offence that a member brings to the group meeting which was not reported to the police will depend on evidence provided or witnessed. Whitehaven has five persons on two-year exclusion for disorder in licenses premises. In Whitehaven the community town centre PC draws down all the evidence from police logs and these are presented at the monthly partnership meetings (held in the local sub-divisional police headquarters) with his line managing sergeant. Names are withheld from the committee and members until a decision on the ban to be imposed is determined. Only very occasionally and in exceptional circumstances is a recommendation made, as to the appropriate punishment, from those police officers present. Warning letters are written by the BCM; other letters as appropriate, by the police.
United force
Overall, a very successful partnership. Certainly it’s more of a force to be reckoned with by the criminal fraternity as a joint partnership creates a united front!
