The Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, launched a consultation about crime with business men and women.
Mr Macpherson is urging people, whether they run small, medium or large concerns, to fill in a survey on his website and register for a business crime forum in September.
The survey is designed to help the commissioner to understand the extent, nature and impact of crime and anti-social behaviour faced by the businesses.
It asks business owners or managers whether they reported the incidents to the Wiltshire force and, if so, how satisfied they were with the response.
The survey also provides an opportunity to offer feedback which could help improve the way in which business crime is tackled in Wiltshire and Swindon.
Organisations including the Wessex and Swindon chambers of commerce, the Wiltshire and Swindon branches of the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors South West have agreed to send their members a link to the survey.
Mr Macpherson said: โA crucial part of my job is to consult with the public to help me decide on the level of the policing element of council tax and on the services I commission from the police and other agencies.
โThe feedback also helps me to hold the Chief Constable to account as Wiltshire Police set about delivering my Police and Crime Plan. The business community, ranging from the small village shop, through medium-sized enterprises to large factories in towns like Swindon play a very important role in the life of our communities.
โThey provide jobs, pay taxes and create wealth through the goods and services they offer. Many have had quite enough on their plates during the economic downturn without having to cope with the impact of business crime.
โI know from my background as a chartered accountant that there are many demands on the time of business people. But I would urge everyone who is running a business in Wiltshire and Swindon to find 20 minutes to complete my survey.
โIt will help me to better understand the problems being faced. I will then work with the business community to look at proactive steps that can be taken to reduce, if not prevent, business crime.โ
The survey results will be presented at a free half-day business crime forum which Mr Macpherson is staging at the Corn Exchange in Devizes on Friday, September 6.
He said: โEvery business person who responds is invited to register to join me at the forum where we will discuss the findings.
โI have also arranged for a senior Wiltshire Police detective who leads a team of experienced fraud investigators to be at the event with extremely useful advice about how to prevent your business โ whether small, medium or large – becoming a victim of a wide range of frauds.โ
The deadline for completing the survey is midnight on Sunday, July 14. For details go to http://www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/Feedback/Business-Crime-Survey.aspx
