In Sussex, police and local businesses in Lewes town centre have set up a Shop Watch scheme for the county town.
Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants are linked to one another and to the police by radio, so information about suspected shoplifters, pickpockets and other criminals can be circulated.
Divisional police commander, Chief Inspector Rob Leet, said: “With so many successful Shop Watch schemes now operating in Sussex, it was important to establish one here in Lewes. Many local traders recognise the strength of working together to deter crime, and this scheme will boost links between businesses and the police. It is fully supported by Sussex Police, the Brighton Business Crime Reduction Partnership, the Lewes District Community Safety Partnership and the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. It will empower proprietors to take a stand against those who come to Lewes with the intention of stealing or causing a nuisance on their premises”.
Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs) working under data protection rules, collate information on active or suspected criminals and this is then used to look out for and if necessary exclude such individuals from Watch premises on a “barred from one, barred from all” basis. Traders signing up to the scheme get a dedicated police co-ordinator who will make visits to check all is well, update websites, distribute a weekly email, provide support, monitor radio transmissions, enrol new members and arrange crime prevention training.
The cost of joining Shop Watch is £6.25 per week. VAT registered businesses can claim that aspect back, and the fee itself is tax deductible, say organisers.
Lisa Perretta, manager of the Brighton and Hove BCRP, said: “This is an excellent step forward for the Lewes business community, and now there will be clear communications between all its members on what’s happening on the ground. Businesses will be forewarned about potential offenders so that they can be on their guard.”
Meanwhile Sussex Police launched a business crime strategy for 2014-2016. It adopts the ACPO definition of business crime as “any criminal offence that is committed against a person or property that is motivated by the connection of that person or property to a business”. Sussex is one of the first forces to publish such a strategy based on the new definition.
Sussex has a number of BCRPs covering all the county’s towns and cities, and five of these are already using online data management. The aim is to collect and share data for business-related crime which will allow detailed analysis and evaluation to be undertaken to help identify potential opportunities for intervention. Developing closer links between partnerships and police may also lead to the development of direct crime reporting through the partnerships online, or greater involvement by police personnel in the administration of partnerships.
Lisa Perretta, chair of the Sussex BCRP group, said: ‘We have worked with Sussex Police to ensure that the work of accredited partnerships in the county has been recognised by a force-wide ISA which provides partnerships with enhanced police intelligence. The importance of fully compliant and effective partnerships to help our communities make the most of our relationship with police is essential, and we believe that we are well placed to make a significant contribution to crime reduction and community safety.’
