NBCS supports calls for collaboration in fight against business crime

Here, Catherine Bowen explains why the National Business Crime Solution (NBCS) couldn’t agree more with the recent comments made by Georgina Barnard (TP Crime Reduction and Partnerships for the Metropolitan Police Service) on the importance of sharing business data to help create a unified, collaborative approach towards fight business crime across the country.

Speaking at a recent retail crime conference, Georgina Barnard highlighted the growing importance of businesses taking a stand together to take preventative action in fighting criminal incidents affecting the UK’s business community. We’re delighted to see such a positive move by law enforcement to recognise how businesses are trying to work more collaboratively.

Georgina’s comments follow a long period of stretched resources and pressure to cut budgets, leaving many police forces focusing their efforts on the most serious incidents of crime. As a result, many businesses have been reluctant to report offences to the police due to a lack of confidence in the police service’s ability to progress an investigation. Now more than ever is a time when we can change this.

For example, using closer collaboration and an evidence-based approach, the National Business Crime Solution has supported a number of businesses to reduce their exposure to business crime while also providing a safer environment for customers and staff.

In fact, the latest half-year results reveal the initiative has helped to cut crimes costing over £650,000 a month. As new businesses sign up, the potential for savings could run into millions.

Catherine Bowen: policy and stakeholder director at the National Business Crime Solution

In addition, by working with law enforcement officials we can not only ensure cross-border serious and organised criminals are pursued but, by working with police analysts, we can also advise businesses on criminal trends and any particular hot spots for increased illicit activities.

That’s not to say the police haven’t been doing a good job, but until we collaborate across the whole country we’ll never have a full or detailed enough picture of the state of business crime in the UK to make a real difference.

In order to continue providing this service it’s up to the UK’s business community who are at the heart of this not-for-profit initiative. Unfortunately, the reality is that police today do not have enough resources or time to put these cases together.

However we choose to monitor and report crime there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, but with closer collaboration between UK businesses and law enforcement we can effectively build a profile of business crime in the UK.

Catherine Bowen is policy and stakeholder director at the National Business Crime Solution

Facewatch and Littoralis working to develop integrated business crime service

Facewatch and Littoralis are pleased to announce that they are working together to develop an integrated business crime service designed to enhance their ability to support the police, partnerships and businesses in the reduction and prevention of crime.

This will be effected by an integration between DISC (Database and Intranet for Safer Communities, which is Littoralis’ secure online platform for information sharing between local community groups such as Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and Business Improvement Districts) and Facewatch’s leading secure Digital Crime Reporting and CCTV analytics system.

Simon Gordon, Chairman of Facewatch, said: “We are delighted to have reached this understanding. DISC has proven itself as the leading online platform for crime reduction partnerships and we believe that it will be significantly enhanced by integration with Facewatch’s Digital Crime Reporting System. Together, we can improve our support to the police in managing low-level crime and, more importantly, help businesses and communities in the prevention of crime.”

Facewatch and Littoralis are working together to develop an integrated business crime service

Charlie Newman, CEO of Littoralis, explained: “Facewatch has proven itself to be the leading innovator in the use of CCTV for evidential purposes and has built a tremendous Crime Reporting System. We believe that providing access to this capability through our network of DISC users will enhance their ability to serve communities in reducing low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The Facewatch/DISC service is scheduled to be generally available from June 2014. Products from both companies will continue to be available independently, but Facewatch and Littoralis will work together in defining and promoting the enhanced benefits of deploying the integrated solution.

About Facewatch and Littoralis

Facewatch is the UK’s leading secure online crime reporting platform that enables businesses, public sector bodies and the police to tackle low-level crime by sharing images for the prevention of crime and by submitting CCTV evidence and witness statements to the police to help solve crimes.

Simon Gordon: chairman of Facewatch

The system now contains over 18,000 images and 7,800 business premises and was started in March 2010.

For more information on Facewatch visit: http://www.facewatch.co.uk, e-mail: info@facewatch.co.uk or call 020 7930 3225

Littoralis launched its secure information-sharing system for crime reduction in 2010. DISC (Database and Intranet for Safer Communities) helps the administrators of crime reduction partnerships to manage their partnerships efficiently, effectively and in compliance with Best Practice and the Data Protection Act 1998, in turn building member engagement and participation while also improving community safety.

Today, DISC accounts for around 100 implementations throughout the UK with Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts, Community Safety Partnerships and other organisations.

For more detail on Littoralis and DISC visit: http://www.littoralis.com or telephone 01273 900468

ACPO approves definition for business crime

ACPO and the National Business Crime Forum have announced that a definition of business crime has now been formerly agreed upon and adopted for the purposes of national crime recording.

It’s widely understood that a minimum of 15% of all crime is related to business crime. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Business Crime Forum (NBCF) have now agreed on a definition for the term, which is as follows:

“Business crime is any criminal offence that is committed against a person or property
which is associated by the connection of that person or property to a business.”

This can be condensed to reflect the MOPAC definition of business crime given that it represents any crime in, around or against a business.

The definition is based on the perception of the victim at the time of reporting of the offence.

An impressive milestone

The definition represents an impressive milestone and the first very important step towards recognising all victims of business crime as well as ensuring, for the first time, that the impact of business crime can be accurately measured.

Paddy Tipping: APCC lead on business crime

An official statement issued by the NBCF reads: “We hope a consequence of accurate recording will be to allow police resources to be more appropriately and effectively allocated and deployed. We recognise that there is still a big task ahead for policing to now train all police staff nationally to that definition and adapt force crime recording systems to allow for the recording of the crimes. We will be working with the college of policing in developing a package which recognises the issues that need to be overcome for its successful implementation.”

The statement continues: “This is a significant step forward in appreciating the impact of business crime on its victim. It’s important the police service and business sector continue to work together on a collaborative basis to ensure that this system continues to be most effective from both the victim’s and investigators’ points of view.”

On behalf of the wider business community, NBCF chairman Barrie Millett MSyI is in the process of developing a successful working relationship with the newly-appointed Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) business crime lead, Paddy Tipping, to enable the business community to come together as one collective voice and raise positive developments and concerns regarding business crime.

It’s envisaged that, as the lead co-ordinating organisation for the various business membership and representative bodies on a national basis, the NBCF will be able to work in partnership with Tipping to collaborate on addressing all forms of business crime.

Barrie Millett MSyI: chairman of the National Business Crime Forum

“I’m truly pleased that we have been able to achieve an important part of this journey,” stated Barrie Millett, “and I will continue to drive forward a collaborative approach to addressing business crime on a national basis.”

The NBCF will continue to work collaboratively to ensure the successful implementation of the definition and will keep interested parties informed as each stage of the strategy is achieved.

BSIA previews South East Business Crime Conference

Tackling business crime and improving security for businesses based in the South East is the focus of a free half-day conference and exhibition being held at Brighton and Hove Football Club on Wednesday 30 October 2013.

Organised by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the event will provide expert advice to local businesses on understanding the risks they face as well as outlining the security solutions available to help reduce such risks.

The event will be formally opened by guest speaker Katy Bourne, Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex and is supported by a number of neighbouring police forces (including Hampshire, Surrey and Thames Valley).

Other speakers already confirmed include:

• Lisa Perretta (of the Brighton and Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership), who’ll be speaking about local initiatives to fight crime
• Charlie Newman of Littoralis, who will outline how local business partnerships can link into a regional and national network
• Professor Martin Gill (of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International), who will be discussing Police Accreditation Schemes and the protection of businesses (including the results of interviews with criminal offenders and how their testimonials have informed a more effective approach to business security)

Professor Martin Gill: speaking at the BSIA’s Business Crime Conference

Delegates will be able to view a number of security solutions first-hand at the accompanying exhibition, which will provide an opportunity to talk to security providers and identify potential solutions for specific security challenges.

Business crime: leading the corporate agenda

Christine Brooks, events manager at the BSIA, commented: “Against the continued backdrop of economic pressures, the issue of business crime remains at the top of the corporate agenda. However, there are many cost-effective solutions that can reduce the risk businesses face. Working together with other local organisations can have a significantly positive impact on reducing the impact of business crime.”

Brooks continued: “Our event aims to bring together the South East business community to provide a wealth of expert advice and facilitate useful networking opportunities for business owners who are looking to source cost-effective solutions for their security challenges.”

Doors will open at 9.00 am in advance of the formal opening at 10.00 am. Presentations will conclude at 12.50 pm, and be followed by a Q&A session and then lunch.

Online registration can be completed by following this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SEBCC

For additional information about the BSIA and its events programme visit: http://www.bsia.co.uk/events