Broughton visit highlights retail crime prevention efforts

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin has voiced his support for a new campaign aimed at tackling business crime and ensuring safer working and shopping environments.

The initiative, National Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) Awareness Week, is running from 17 to 23 March and has been organised by the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships.

It is supported by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) and seeks to highlight the collaborative work being done to reduce crime in town centres across the UK.

As part of the campaign, BCRPs are showcasing crime prevention strategies, including intelligence-sharing, warning letters, and exclusion orders for prolific offenders.

Businesses are also being encouraged to access training resources and establish Safe Spaces schemes where needed.

To mark the occasion, PCC Andy Dunbobbin visited Broughton Shopping Park, meeting with Charlie Mobbs, Business Crime Officer for Cheshire West & North Wales Business Reduction Partnership, as well as local retail security staff and North Wales Police officers.

Discussions focused on crime reduction measures in place at Broughton and efforts being implemented across Flintshire, including in Mold, Holywell, Flint, and Deeside.

Anneliese Budd, Business Crime Manager for the Cheshire West & North Wales BCRP, highlighted the impact of their work, stating: “The BCRP has been successfully operating on Broughton Shopping Park for 10 years.”

“We’re pleased to have the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner during this campaign in our shared endeavour to tackle the problem of retail theft and business crime across North Wales.”

PCC Andy Dunbobbin reinforced his commitment to the cause, saying: “As the Joint Lead on Business and Retail Crime for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, this issue is one that is hugely important to me.”

“Tackling business and retail crime forms a key part of my plan for fighting crime in North Wales over the coming years. People have a right to go to work, or to shop, or conduct business free from the fear of crime.”

Sophie Jordan of the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships emphasised the significance of BCRPs in crime prevention, noting: “BCRPs are at the heart of crime prevention, community safety, and partnership working, helping businesses, local agencies, and law enforcement work together to create safer places to live, work, and socialise.”

NBCC lead, Superintendent Patrick Holdaway, echoed the importance of such initiatives, stating: “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: Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP)