Collaboration is 'key' in fight against retail crime

150 businesses will act as additional eyes and ears in the fight against retail crime

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) says collaboration is "critical" in the fight against retail crime.

It comes as the first Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) is set up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, bringing together 150 businesses, Wiltshire Police local authorities and Salisbury Business District (BID).

The partnership will include the use of a crime reporting app called DISC, which allows real-time intelligence sharing which hopes to prevent criminal activity.

Wiltshire and Swindon's PCC Philip Wilkinson said combining "scarce resources" across organisations will help create a "shared pot of gold" to the "betterment of all of us".

Criminal activities reported through the app will go directly to the police control centre, who will be monitored to see if they can manage the expected increase in data and intelligence.

If successful it is hoped the concept will be introduced in other parts of the county

Mr Wilkinson said Salisbury was chosen for the first BCRP in the county as it has "strong foundations to build on".

A CCTV monitoring system with radio links known as City Watch has operated in Salisbury since 2018 and connects CCTV volunteers with anti-social behaviour wardens, policing teams, door staff, businesses and street pastors.

Bernice Ghazvin at T G Jones said "abuse is getting worse"

Operations Manager for Salibsury BID, Dan Collins, said retail crime is a "huge issue" nationally and Salisbury is "not immune" to the problem.

Bernice Ghazvin an employee at TG Jones in the town centre said "abuse is getting worse" and she had suffered "verbal abuse" and "threats" from customers.

Rachel Tribbeck from the independent jeweller HR Tribbeck & Son said staff had been left "upset and vulnerable" after the store has been targeted using subterfuge and the key to success for the BCRP is "everybody working together".

Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, said "working together is critical"

Councillors from other towns attended the launch in anticipation of BCRPs being introduced in their district, including Swindon Borough councillor Marina Strinkovsky, who said she wanted the introduction of a BCRP in the town "as soon as possible".

Ms Strinkovsky said many agencies and organisations working in Swindon care about retail crime" but are not well "networked with businesses".

"Businesses feel that they're alone," she added.

Supt Int Lisa Maslen from the National Business Crime Centre said BCRP's, which are operating across the UK, had proven to be a "deterrent".

"Working in collaboration gets a message out very quickly - that there's nowhere to hide," said Ms Maslen.

Operations Manager for Salisbury Business Improvement District, Dan Collins