Essex business collaboration recognised for supporting police volunteering
Essex Chamber of Commerce, Essex Police and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner have been recognised at the National Employer Supported Policing Conference for their innovative collaboration to create stronger relationships between businesses across the county and Essex Police.
Employer Supported Policing is a national programme where businesses provide support for their staff to volunteer with Essex Police within their communities. This helps their staff develop new skills and experience while also working giving back to their local community as Special Constables. The number of businesses involved in the programme in Essex has grown from 2 to 20 over the last two years with the number of people involved growing from 45 to 78.
Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said, “Businesses are a vital part of our communities. They provide employment, create prosperity and add life and vibrancy within our communities. Working with the Chamber of Commerce has been a game changer for this programme in Essex. Their energy, commitment and vision has driven the growth of the programme and as a result the businesses involved and the communities they are part of are safer.”
Denise Rossiter, Chief Executive of Essex Chambers of Commerce, said “I believe that if we are to tackle crimes against businesses successfully then we all need to work together. That’s why I’m delighted to help lead the Strategic Crime Board and to help encourage employers to release staff to become Special Constables.”
Essex Chamber of Commerce has established a Business Crime Strategic Board with members drawn from strategically important business from a range of sectors and different geographic locations across Essex. The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, and Essex Police Chief Constable, BJ Harrington also sit on the board which looks at countywide strategic issue facing businesses as well as how all members can work together to create safe secure and prosperous communities.
BJ Harrington, Essex Police Chief Constable, said, “Crime on businesses, particularly the small, independent ones within our county, can have a devastating impact for victims.
“By working together we can make it much harder for criminals to target businesses, reduce crime and free police resources to focus on wider community safety issues.
“We are lucky in Essex to have a strong and productive business community and by working together we make a real difference to them and our communities.”
