Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner Sue Arnold is urging businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to take advantage of a range of free initiatives to prevent them becoming victims of crime.
Speaking at the Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce’s annual Staffordshire Business Festival on Tuesday (5 November), Mrs Arnold will discuss the unique initiatives on offer to support businesses in the county and city:
- Staffordshire SMART Alerts – a free service which shares timely local updates on crimes and incidents from police and partners via email or an app. Alerts can be tailored to particular locations or areas of interest. www.staffordshiresmartalert.uk/staffs/
- Cyber champions – free workplace training to help Staffordshire businesses stay one step ahead of online fraudsters. There are now over 200 dedicated workplace cyber champions.
- Crime prevention advisors – trained to deliver tailored support packages to businesses to prevent them becoming victims of crime.
- Digital PCSO – providing crime prevention advice to keep businesses and residents cyber-safe. Follow @SP_DigitalPCSO on Twitter.
- Business Crime Helpline – delivered by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to provide specialist support to businesses impacted by crime: 01782 900239 or email businesscrime@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
Mrs Arnold, who leads on business crime on behalf of Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis, said: ‘Small businesses are the lifeline of our economy and it is vital we support them.
‘Business crime is a very real threat and can devastate companies of any size, in any industry, but the impact of robbery, theft, vandalism or online fraud can be particularly damaging for smaller businesses.
‘As a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, I am delighted to be presenting at the Festival and sharing ways businesses can reduce the chance of becoming victims.
‘This is not only good for them, but has benefits for Staffordshire as a whole – a safe county is attractive for inward investment.’
Find out more about the Staffordshire Commissioner’s commitment to tackling business crime.
