Have your say with the PFCC’s Business Crime Survey
Roger Hirst, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex is seeking the views of businesses on crime and crime prevention in Essex. The online survey, in collaboration with the Essex Chambers of Commerce, will help shape the way business crime is tackled in Essex and support the work of the Strategic Business Crime Board.
Launching the survey, Mr Hirst said “Businesses are a vital part of our communities. By providing goods and services, offering employment and generating wealth, they add life and vibrancy to our communities.
“Helping prevent crime wherever possible, and creating an environment where businesses are free to operate effectively, improves the lives of all of us.
“We are privileged in Essex to have a dynamic and innovative business community. They work well with the police to reduce the risk of crime happening, work together to create safe environments and provide vital intelligence.”
Essex Police in tandem with businesses, look to identify and wherever possible prevent crime taking place, but we know that together we can do more. Business crime accounts for between 17% and 20% of all recorded crime in Essex with approximately 24,000 crimes recorded annually. The largest type of business crime is retail crime, predominately shoplifting, which is 40% of all business crime. Other significant types of crime committed against businesses includes fraud, criminal damage and theft.
Chief Inspector Terry Balding said “The effect crime can have on business can be detrimental and it has an impact not only on the owners, but also the staff and the community they are a part of.
“We are always working to expand our understanding of crime and how it affects different areas of the community. Through partnership working with local business we provide support and advise on preventative measures, as well as helping those who have been a victim of crime.
“We are currently developing a team whose focus will be on crime affecting business and the impact it has on the wider community. The Business Crime Team will work with our partners, local business and our well established local policing teams. The information gathered by the survey will help to guide this development.”
As well as supporting the development of the business crime strategy, the survey results will also feed into the work of the Strategic Business Crime Board. This business led board, chaired by the Chamber of Commerce, was established in July 2018 to help develop a closer working relationship between the business community and Essex Police. The board’s membership is drawn from businesses from different sectors and locations across Essex.
Denise Rossiter, Essex Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive said “Working together we know that businesses and the police can cut business crime by putting in place simple prevention measures and building awareness within the business community.
Our members are playing their part in supporting our emergency services, helping their staff volunteer as Special Constables and investing thousands of pounds in security. We want to know what more we can do together to support businesses and tackle crime, so I would urge all businesses to complete this survey and have their say.”
Complete the Business Crime Survey by clicking on this link: https://www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/business-crime-survey-2019/
The Business Crime Survey will close on Sunday 22nd of September. The survey results will be published on the PFCC’s website at www.essex.pfcc.police.uk
