Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, has begun a fresh offensive against business crime with the launch of her new Business Crime Partnership.
The initiative brings together businesses, professional organisations, the police and public sector agencies to reduce crime that impacts businesses and the communities they serve.
The Partnership, chaired by the PCC, was set in motion on Wednesday (16th October) at John Lewis in West Quay, Southampton.
Members will work together to find effective business crime solutions underpinning the Police Commissioner’s ambition to identify, prevent and tackle all forms of crime affecting businesses across Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“As Commissioner, I am a voice for thousands of businesses. As their representative, it is my duty to understand their crime concerns and to ensure they receive a robust policing response.
“This new Partnership will mean increased reporting and enhanced information sharing between the business community, the police and criminal justice agencies. It will also mean more support for victims and assistance for perpetrators who want to change their lives and stop reoffending.”
“Shoplifting makes people feel really unsafe in their communities, and it is often linked to serious and organised crime, putting businesses and livelihoods at risk. The Chief Constable and I share a zero tolerance approach to retail crime.”
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The Partnership launch comes during Safer Business Action Week run by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC). Its focus is engaging with businesses, identifying and catching suspects, crime prevention, and raising awareness.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“Every year, businesses are victims of crimes including shoplifting, fraud, scams, and theft. Added into the mix are prolific offenders and organised crime gangs who steal to order.
“My new Partnership will keep business crime at the top of everyone’s agenda. By sharing resources and working together, I am determined to increase confidence across the business community.”
Rob Dewing, Regional Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses South Central Region, has said:
“The launch of this new partnership to fight crimes against businesses of all sizes is strongly welcomed by the Federation of Small Business. Whether the issue is high levels of shoplifting, violence against shop staff, or the theft of a skilled craftsman’s van and tools, crime has devastating effects on local businesses every day.
“At a time of ever growing pressures on policing and the criminal justice system, the increasing focus which will come from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Partnership is a big step in the right direction.”
Tackling business crime is one of the priorities featured in the PCC’s new Police and Crime Plan which is about to be published. The document sets the strategic direction for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary for the next 4 years until 2028.
I wish Donna would take the same stance on
Speeding on the Island.
Speeding kills
20mph is plenty it works well in Wales and London.
I have never seen a place where speeding is freely
allowed to take place.
Just look at the following Roads
Eg
Military Road, Briddlesford Road, Great Preston Road,
Beachfield Road, Yaverland Road and Beaper Shute to
name a few, yet alone various Esplanades.
All speedway, why in 2024 are there no speed Camera’s
installed!.
20 doesn’t/didn’t work in Wales- it’s all been cancelled and reverted back to previous limits. IOW doesn’t need to be a nanny state.
Wales have not reverted back.
More and more places are implementing
20mph
It’s the only way to STOP idiots speeding
What about tackling the many rogue bussinesses ?
There won’t be many businesses left on the island
Lol
What exactly does “zero tolerance” mean? We’ll investigate thoroughly every reported incident? We’ll implement a punishment regime which takes the effects of crime seriously?
Or just: we don’t like it very much?
This is a sound-bite with no substance.
Whenever I see the words ‘hub’, ‘initiative’, and ‘partnership’, I feel it is, yet again, another one of those wokey programmes.
The UK has had a police force for 100 years +. In the past, policing worked. Yet, nowadays, without any coppers on the beat and officers getting upset when you refuse to use their ‘preferred pronouns’, our law enforcers think a programme like this will resolve crime; it won’t.
We don’t need these people in these roles. We need proper coppers enforcing the law.
The only crime is extortionate business rates imposed by our dopey council
At least she’s not wearing that blue tent any more. I think that was a crime against fashion in itself.