Blackburn Business Against Crime (BBAC) is the latest partnership to be awarded its first Safer Business Award after accreditation by the Association of Business Crime Partnerships (ABCP).
BBAC was established less than 12 months ago and is managed from the Mall shopping centre in the Lancashire town by their security manager, Ronnie O’Keefe. He has expanded the membership to over 80 businesses in the town centre and outer areas and is engaging with police and other agencies in the town.
A restorative justice programme is aimed at preventing young people from committing further offences. Security staff use body cameras to photograph offenders, the partnership has funded a PCSO and special constables, purchased wireless CCTV in the town centre and is working with Lancashire Police towards gaining accredited community support officer status for security staff.
Ronnie O’Keefe said: ‘It has been hard work, but the results and benefits to businesses in the town have been tremendous. Offenders now know that their behaviour will be monitored and details circulated to all members so they have warning of what is going on. This has deterred a number of offenders, who also know we use CCTV extensively as well as body cameras. The result has been an improvement in behaviour, which can only be good for the town.’
