Local officers show support to local businesses in week of action

We took part in a national initiative earlier this month aimed at making sure local businesses are protected from crime.

From Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October, we sent high visibility patrols into hot spot areas to action the issues that matter to the business community – leading to the arrest of seven people.

The week saw all ten of our local policing teams (LPT) actively engaging with business owners and employees to make sure they know we are there for them and to provide relevant crime prevention advice.

We were keen to get out and speak to people after recent reports suggested that business crime was vastly underreported. Thieves who prolifically target businesses cause extensive damage to the livelihoods and stability of owners who are already facing increased pressures in the current cost-of-living environment.

We held more than eight engagement events in retail locations across the county, sharing general crime prevention advice with employees and business owners. We also visited businesses directly and discussed the best ways to tackle theft moving forward.

Local officers also discussed the best options for reporting business crime, with 101, Facebook, Twitter and our website available for any non-emergency queries.

Chief Inspector Giles Parsons, who led on the initiative, said: "Although this was a targeted week of action, local officers will continue to support the business community, linking in with partners such as Partnerships Against Business Crime in Staffordshire (PABCIS) and the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce. 

“We take all reports of crime seriously. It is vital that businesses talk to us because we can’t investigate if we don’t know about it.

“Local intelligence helps us to build a better picture of the crime issues facing local businesses. It helps us to identify crime trends and reach out to similar businesses to provide prevention advice, helping to prevent further incidents from occurring.

“If your business needs support, please reach out to us. We are here to help.”

Julie Davies OBE, PABCIS manager, said: “We work very closely with Staffordshire Police and indeed the wider regional and national business crime community. 

"We are delighted that Staffordshire Police and PABCIS took part in this national initiative and involved all ten of the local policing teams and that my team were able to support in many areas. 

"Business crime is very much under reported, and frequently staff are subjected to abuse from individuals impacting on the businesses they work in so any action taken in order to tackle these issues is very much welcomed by PABCIS and the business community it represents. 

"We will continue to work for our businesses in raising the issues, imposing sanctions, sharing intelligence and also working in partnership with relevant agencies in order to reduce the impact of crime affecting the business community.”

For specific advice on how to protect your business from crime, visit: Business crime prevention | Staffordshire Police

To report a crime, contact us on 101, Facebook or Twitter, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.