UNITE TO FIGHT CRIME

Brian Neale - a former senior policeman with more than 10-years experience helping to reduce crime through supporting partners in crime and community safety partnership projects - is heading an initiative launched by Safe in Tees Valley (SITV) to unite stakeholders in tackling the growing threat of business crime.

While keeping staff and businesses safe and secure has always been a business priority, crime invariably becomes a greater problem in challenging economic times, when businesses are most vulnerable.  

The current situation is made more complex because the types of crime causing the major problems vary significantly from sector to sector and location to location.  The threat from ‘traditional’ criminal activities, such as shoplifting, burglary, violence against staff, metal theft, vehicle crime and vandalism, has never gone away but many businesses now also have to deal with electronic age crimes such as credit card fraud, identity theft and computer hacking etc.
SITV is currently consulting with a broad cross-section of Tees Valley businesses to identify which types of crime present the biggest threat and how best to tackle them.  Feedback from businesses will inform the content and strategy of an interactive website that will provide: -

• A communications medium linking businesses, local communities and relevant agencies and organisations
• A forum where businesses can discuss problems and solutions and disseminate best practice
• A gateway to training, advice and business support
• Regular local news updates.

Brian Neale said: -

“After more than 15 years working with agencies and organisations throughout the North East, SITV has accumulated extensive experience of developing innovative, closely targeted crime prevention programmes- then securing funding to deliver them. ” 
Feedback from businesses will determine which crimes are prioritised and how they are tackled, so we want to hear from firms of all types and sizes. A simple response form, that will take only a few minutes to complete and send, is available on the SITV website at www.safeinteesvalley.org/businesscrime.

For further editorial information, contact Jacqui Taylor on 01642 890383, M. 07801 256662 or Brian Neale on T. 0845 271 3874.