Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI) has become the accreditation body for Business Crime Reduction Partnerships. BCRPs around the country share intelligence to deter and prevent crimes, typically shoplifting and theft, to create safer shopping and business by day and night.
PCPI, which is often referred to by its most crime prevention initiative Secured by Design, will be accrediting BCRPs on a set of standards owned by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC). The standards have been created over the last 18 months by a group led by Martin Blackwell, former Chief Executive Officer, of the Association of Town and City Management, and including representatives from the NBCC, managers from the BCRP sector and business.
The aim; to recognise good practice and show ensure partnerships are functioning in an ethical manner, specifically in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
The standards include good management and procedures such as membership agreements, data security and compliance with law. It includes having robust information for members and partner organisations that is up to date as well as making it easily accessible 24/7. For some BCRPs, the standards will include the use of CCTV and radio links with members. Another intention is to reassure police that data shared with BCRPs will be used in a responsible manner to reduce crime.
Jon Cole, PCPI Chief Operating Officer, said: “We want BCRPs and their businesses, including their management and employees, to feel confident and empowered to take action to work with Police Forces and Local Authorities to make their local communities safer and stronger.”
Georgina Barnard, NBCC Operational Lead, said: “The standards provide a solid starting point and we intend to review them regularly to ensure that they remain fit for purpose. We want to promote better and more consistent working between Police Forces and their local BCRPs. By demonstrating that accredited partnerships meet the national standard, we will give Police Forces the confidence to ‘dare to share’ information and act on the information they receive from BCRPs to promote collaborative working.”
BCRPs are subscription-based, business-led, non-profit making action groups, often associated with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), working with police and councils to gather intelligence and share information to tackle crime and disorder affecting businesses whether multi-chain retailers and small independent shops, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. The UK has an estimated 400 BCRPs.
BCRPs are encouraged to contact one of the two assessing organisations working with the NBCC that have been authorised to carry out assessments leading to accreditation. They are the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships, and Revive & Thrive.
National Association of Business Crime Partnerships
Tel: 07861 215 271
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.nabcp.com.
Revive & Thrive
Tel: 03330 124285
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.reviveandthrive.co.uk.
