Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI) has become the accreditation body for Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs), which seek to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in towns and cities around the country. Working closely with Police and Local Authorities, BCRPs bring businesses together to make their communities safer and to combat the adverse impact on profitability caused by crime and the fear of crime.
BCRPs share intelligence to deter and prevent crimes like shoplifting and theft through violence and disorder to create safer shopping and business environments for both the day and night-time economies. PCPI, which is often referred to by its most successful crime prevention initiative, Secured by Design, will be accrediting BCRPs on a set of standards owned by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC).
Recognising good practice and professionalism
The standards include good management practices and procedures such as membership agreements, data securityThe standards have been created over the last 18 months by a group of industry professionals led by Martin Blackwell, former Chief Executive Officer, of the Association of Town and City Management, and including representatives from the NBCC, leading staff from the BCRP sector and business. The aim of the BCRP accreditation process is to recognise good practice and professionalism to ensure they are functioning in an ethical manner and within the law, specifically checks to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
The standards include good management practices and procedures such as membership agreements, data security and compliance with current legislation. 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.
Data sharing to reduce criminal activity
It is expected that accreditation will enhance the level of partnership working nationally and encourage continued, significant, national business investment in BCRPs. In addition, the intention is that it will provide reassurance to Police Forces that data shared with BCRP partner organisations will be utilised in a responsible manner to reduce criminal activity.
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.”
The standards provide a solid starting point and we intend to review them regularly to ensure that they remain fit for purpose"
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.”
Making local communities safer
BCRPs are subscription-based, business-led, non-profit making action groups, often associated with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), working with Police Forces and Local Authorities to gather intelligence and share information to tackle crime and disorder affecting businesses from multi-chain retailers and small independent shops through to pubs and restaurants and nightclubs. There are believed to be approximately 400 BCRPs operating in the UK. They seek to make their local communities safer places to live, work and visit.
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.
