Businesses in Stoke-on-Trent city centre are being urged to take part in a crime reduction initiative.
A Business Crime Liaison Ambassador supported by a grant from the Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s office is set to closely monitor crime trends in the area.
Under a pilot scheme running until the end of the year, the Ambassador will log and report all acts of business crime and anti-social behaviour.
Businesses are being urged to help by reporting any criminal activity via the DISC information-sharing App which is used by Partnerships Against Business Crime in Staffordshire (PABCIS).
The new drive to shine a light on crime trends in the city centre is being launched by Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID (Business Improvement District).
A grant of £5,000 has been secured from the Safer Streets 4 Fund from the Crime Commissioners.
BID Lead Director for Place Management Julie Davies said: “Businesses will be aware that PABCIS works very closely in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID.
“Indeed the BID funds annual membership to PABCIS in the City Centre. Many will have access to the PABCIS DISC App which facilitates secure incident reporting and receipt of information from PABCIS.
“We at PABCIS rely upon information being submitted to be able to work to reduce crime and disorder in the City Centre.
“Sadly we are aware that some businesses are being victims of incidents, or becoming aware of incidents but are not reporting to us.
“This is often explained as some businesses see little purpose, don’t have the time or are too busy. We are also aware that some of you have not applied for access to the APP for those within your business who would qualify for such access.
“I cannot stress the importance of all incidents which occur in your premises, or which you may see in the street, being reported to us so that we can create a true picture of what is really going on in our city centre.”
The Business Crime Liaison Ambassador, Rich Wood (currently a BID Street Ambassador), will be continuously monitoring the city centre radios and visiting businesses as soon as possible after an incident to ensure the correct procedures are followed.
