The Association of Business Crime Partnerships (ABCP) has joined with Midlands Regional Crime Initiative (MRCI) to form a new body, The National Association of Business Crime Partnerships. Its aim: to tackle retail and business crime. The organisation has been established to set a new standard by which business crime can be measured and managed in town centres and to reduce its impact on UK high streets.
ABCP’s Richard Barron said: “ABCP and MRCI have been supporting and accrediting BCRPs for over 10 years. Both organisations have stood the test of time. The time is now right for both to come together to form the NABCP and become the standard setting BCRP support organisation in England and Wales. I am delighted that both organisations will be sharing their resources and expertise to further raise the standards and contribution of BCRPs in their work with partners, stakeholders and statutory agencies to reduce crime affecting businesses in our towns, cities and shopping centres.”
And David Wilson of MRCI said: “We have been listening to businesses and our partners for new ideas and a fresh look with innovative solutions to reduce business crime and provide a return on investment for our members. In collaboration with BCRPs and businesses a new strategy is being established to raise standards and enable the legitimate sharing of intelligence to deter offenders and prevent crime. The NABCP will be the organisation through which ABCP and MRCI will work together to deliver the new strategy.”
Tim Edwards, chairman of the Retail Loss Prevention Fashion Forum, a collective of heads of loss prevention for many of the high street’s biggest fashion brands, said: “This development is long overdue, but we are delighted to support the establishment of the national body representing the interests of business crime partnerships and setting a benchmark standard of what good should look like. We will be working with the new organisation over the coming months to ensure that our stores and businesses have the best possible collaborative working relationship with their local BCRPs to help reduce stock losses, protect our staff and improve the local retail environment for our customers.”
