Why it matters: Retail crime affects local businesses, their staff, and the broader community. This initiative aims to address these issues in Ipswich and Suffolk proactively.
The big picture: The Suffolk Retail Crime Forum, held at Ipswich Town Football Club, precedes Safer Business Week (14-20 October), a national week of action focused on retail crime prevention.
Key details:
Chief Constable Rachel Kearton and Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore opened the event.
Presentations covered targeting organised crime and using technology to improve communication between businesses.
The Ipswich Town Foundation discussed their Divert and Kicks programmes, which aim to steer young people away from crime.
Discussions focused on securing retail parks, tackling retail crime from retailers' perspectives, and how Business Improvement Districts can support national efforts.
What they're saying:
Supt Andy Martin: "This event was an opportunity to revitalise our collective commitment to tackle retail and business crime. Our local figures show roughly three quarters of retail crime relates to theft, while a quarter relates to an element of violence used and all too often, sadly, it is a combination of both."
Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner: "The whole day was very informative and an excellent example of how a joint approach from business, voluntary and the public sector can come together and tackle this form of criminality."
Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central: "Having recently started in my role, I am reassured to see the commitment by police with this collaborative working approach and with this initiative it is a positive step forward to reinforce that commitment."
What's next: During Safer Business Week, police will engage with retailers, provide crime prevention advice, conduct high-visibility patrols, and gather intelligence. They'll encourage businesses to report incidents online and use the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) to share evidence electronically.
The bottom line: This forum marks a significant step in Ipswich's fight against retail crime, emphasising collaboration between police, businesses, and community organisations to create safer retail environments.
