A further 30 businesses signed up to get the latest information to help them tackle crime when Sue Arnold, Staffordshire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, spoke at an early morning event yesterday.
PCC Matthew Ellis has commissioned the Business Crime Matters strategy to help beat business crime and promote economic growth economic growth across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
It is being delivered by Mrs Arnold, a former president of Southern Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, who spoke to the Business First networking group at their weekly breakfast meeting at Darnford Golf Club, near Lichfield.
Latest reported crime figures show that there’s almost one crime every hour in Staffordshire where businesses are the victims. The total price tag of burglary, shoplifting, robbery, criminal damage, theft and other offences against businesses in Staffordshire is estimated at over £7,300 per hour. And, worryingly, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, nationally over a third (39 per cent) of businesses do not report crime to police.
At yesterday’s event businesses signed up for Business Crime Alerts which provide subscribers with electronic alerts about crime trends and incidents to help them not to become victims.
Mrs Arnold said: “Businesses are the lifeblood of local communities across Staffordshire but times are tough for small retailers and being a victim or robbery, theft, vandalism or online fraud can be enough to drive them into the ground.
“Business Crime Matters is about building confidence in the local business community by making sure that business crime is taken seriously.
“It was fantastic to get such a good response after reinforcing how we are putting business crime victims at the forefront of our work in this important area.”
Business First membership co-ordinator Alison Taylor added: “Business First, a successful and independent business networking group, were delighted to welcome Sue Arnold the Deputy Police Crime Commissioner as their guest speaker yesterday.
“As a successful business woman, Sue impressed the group with her understanding of the needs of business and the strategy that she is promoting to recognise, communicate and improve the approach to business crime. Business First meets every Thursday at Darnford Moor Golf Club in Lichfield and they are looking forward to welcoming Sue back in the near future.”
To sign up for business crime alerts now go to www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/business
