Schemes for businesses to prevent crime

Crime and the fear of crime can impact on the profitability of your business. Joining a partnership will help you to reduce shoplifting and anti-social behaviour as well as theft from your customers. The added benefit is that it will empower you, your employees and your partners, helping to educate and instil greater peace of mind for all.

There are various crime prevention initiatives which are proving effective in helping to combat crime against businesses. Check out those listed below, to see which best suits your business needs. By being in constant touch with other businesses – sharing information, intelligence and ideas – you’ll be far better protected.

Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP)

A BCRP is a subscription-based, business-led, non-profit making action group working with police and the local authority to tackle and reduce crime and disorder affecting businesses. The overall aim is to create a safer environment within London’s diverse and flourishing retail community – from department stores to small and medium-sized enterprises.

For further information please visit the Safer Business Network.

Business Improvement District (BID)

A Business Improvement District is a business-led and funded body formed to represent and improve a defined commercial area. They can be a powerful tool for directly involving local businesses in local activities, and allow the business community and local authorities to work together to improve the local trading environment.

For business owners, this means that you are plugged into a cohesive organisation that has your interests at heart, and will keep you informed of, and involved in, local initiatives designed to maintain a safer environment.

Police and Security (PaS)

Police and Security is a business-led initiative designed to simplify and improve collaboration, communication, coordination, trust and feedback between the police and the private security industry.

If you’re interested in receiving regular updates from the PaS hub, simply register online for information sharing and weekly updates.

Pubwatch

Pubwatch is a voluntary scheme which allows licensees to work together to reduce anti-social behaviour related to alcohol and substance misuse, improving the safety of their premises for customers, staff and the local community.

Shopwatch

Shopwatch is a community-based crime prevention scheme that promotes communication between retailers and local police to reduce crime.

Hospital Watch

Hospital Watch is a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for hospitals and mental health facilities. It’s overseen by the Met’s network of Hospital Liaison Officers (HLOs) whose key role is the prevention and detection of crime.

They also develop and formalise working relationships at all levels between the Met, NHS trusts, their staff and patients, in order to secure a measurably safer and more secure environment to reduce crime, the fear of crime and promote the prevention of crime for those working at or visiting their local NHS trust.

Shared radio scheme

Joining a shared radio scheme will give you direct access to a radio network, which is monitored by local police officers, CCTV suites and other businesses, meaning that warnings of criminal activity can be efficiently communicated between members.

Secured Environments

Secured Environments is a police certification scheme awarded to organisations that are able to show they have adopted six key principles for protecting themselves against crime.