Raising awareness of the crime threats to business and fitting free or low cost security measures can have a good impact. So suggests the Business Crime Reduction Centre, operated by a South Yorkshire based charity with four police forces in the region, seeking to provide security support to Yorkshire’s small and medium sized businesses. Part of the purpose of the Centre is to increase business confidence by reducing the threat of crime and removing the dead weight of the security costs involved. After 18 months of operations the centre says that as a direct result of its interventions 184 jobs that would have been lost have been safeguarded. Furthermore 5.5 entirely new jobs have been created.
David Ransom, pictured, Chief Executive of the charity People United Against Crime said: “We are delighted to be able to make such a contribution to stabilising and growing the Yorkshire economy. We have always known that reducing the threat of crime against business would encourage confidence and reassurance. Once that sentiment is established business owners are much more likely to invest and grow their businesses. We are grateful to our partners the police who are playing a key role in the Business Crime Reduction Centre’s success by providing the personnel who we train as business advisers. This is a fine example of the public, private and voluntary sector working together to make a tangible difference to life in our communities.”
Since starting the region-wide service in 2012, the centre reports that it has provided support to 1,300 Yorkshire businesses. The Business Crime Reduction Centre’s business advisers have raised awareness about crime threats, provided specific crime prevention advice and increased businesses resilience. For more information – visit: www.bcrc-uk.org
About the Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC)
BCRC is an initiative which helps small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Yorkshire and Humber region tackle problems caused by crime. BCRC, with staff from each police force, support businesses that have been affected by crime and help them to prevent crime. BCRC is delivered with PUAC, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside Police forces. BCRC is part financed by the European Union through the Yorkshire and the Humber European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme 2007-2013. The partnership has received £4.2 million of investment. PUAC has secured £2,243,930 of investment for BCRC from ERDF which is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government. A further £2,012,000 of matching funding is being provided by the four police forces.
Visit www.bcrc-uk.org
About People United Against Crime
People United Against Crime was founded in 1996 by South Yorkshire Police. It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The organisation, based in Sheffield, works mainly across the Yorkshire and Humber region. Visit www.people-united.org
