Police in West Cheshire take part in National business crime week of action

Police in the western area of Cheshire have been taking part in the National Association of Business Crime Partnership’s week of action.

The week of action has been running since 17 March and concludes on 23 March.

The campaign has been organised by the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships and is supported by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC).

The aim is to highlight the benefits a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) presence can bring to an area. That includes highlighting working relationships between the police, BCRP staff and its members.

The week gave the team from the Cheshire West and North Wales BCRP the opportunity to showcase different approaches to business crime prevention and demonstrate the partnership work that helps safeguard the people who live, work and socialise in towns and cities across the UK. It will also help to raise awareness of the issues affecting towns and cities and encourage collaboration work to develop long term solutions.

Here in West Cheshire the BCRP team has carried out business engagement visits with officers and PCSOS from Northwich, Chester and Ellesmere Port Local Policing Units.

They hosted business crime training sessions for BCRP members which included making them aware of items used in shoplifting offences such as foil lined bags and de-taggers, ways to report to Police and other authorities as well as highlighting the full benefits of being a BCRP member.

They also visited a number of shops in the three areas including Chester City Centre and Cheshire Oaks alongside officers and PCSOs to give out valuable crime prevention advice.

Chief Inspector Dan Reynolds said:

“By working together we can take a stand against business crime and show that collectively we’re determined to deter thieves and criminals who see shops and businesses as an easy target. I hope that this continued collaboration goes from strength to strength to further improve our town and city centres.”

Anneliese Budd, Business Crime Manager, Cheshire West & North Wales Business Crime Reduction Partnership said:

“The BCRP has been successfully operating across Cheshire West for 20 Years. We’re pleased to have the support of Cheshire Constabulary during this campaign in our shared endeavour to tackle the problem of retail theft and business crime across the county.”

NBCC lead, Supt Patrick Holdaway commented: “This is an excellent initiative and will demonstrate the importance of BCRPs in reducing crime and ASB across our towns and cities. Weeks like this not only help to proactively tackle business crime, they also strengthen collaboration between BCRPs, police, local authorities, and businesses.”

Find out more about BCRPs here: 

https://nbcc.police.uk/partnerships/business-crime-reduction-partnerships-bcrp