The latest Business Crime Index from AXA Insurance shows business crime has dropped by 14 per cent across the UK, yet Yorkshire and the Humber still has seven business crime hotspots above the national average. They are: Hull (2nd), Bradford (3rd), Wakefield (7th) and Sheffield (9th) in the top ten worst areas for business crime, even though crime against business in Sheffield has reduced.
In the effort to reduce crime against business, Yorkshire and the Humber police forces are working with the regional charity People United Against Crime to develop the Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) which provides free physical and cyber security assessments to small businesses.
David Ransom, Director of BCRC said: “In these harsh economic times, many businesses are reluctant to spend money on security. However there are many cost-free security solutions that businesses can adopt which BCRC’s Business Advisers are happy to advise on. Since January 2012, BCRC has assisted nearly 2,000 businesses in the region – an activity which has helped reduce crime but there is still more to do. BCRC works closely with police and local businesses to ensure business crime as a whole is tackled head on.”
BCRC offers businesses a ‘one-stop-shop’ for crime reduction advice. Through BCRC specially trained Police Community Support Officers from the four police forces conduct security surveys of each business assessing over 20 key factors of a business’s security and provides a report of vulnerabilities and detailed recommendations as to how threats can be reduced. All of BCRC’s services are provided free of charge. BCRC is delivered with Yorkshire-based charity, People United Against Crime and South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside Police forces. BCRC is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-2013.
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 dedicated staff from each police force, support businesses that have been affected by crime and help them to prevent crime. BCRC is delivered in partnership 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
Yorkshire and the Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013
The ERDF Programme is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government on behalf of a local partnership including the National Government, European Commission and local bodies. The programme has €583 million from ERDF to invest by 2013. Further information about the ERDF Programme in Yorkshire and the Humber, including information about the projects that are receiving ERDF Investment, is available at www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
European Regional Development Fund
ERDF was established in 1975 to stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the European Union. ERDF is provided to support the European Union’s cohesion policy that seeks to redress imbalances in development between regions and Member States. It is used to support projects that can help local economies address the challenges of globalisation and contribute to delivering Europe’s 2020 strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Information about the European Union’s support for regions is available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm
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. PUAC aims to reduce crime, support communities and strengthen local economies. Please visit www.people-united.org
