Business Link is encouraging local businesses to ensure they are
doing all they can to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of
crime.
Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation
responsible for delivering the Business Link services across the
East Midlands says, "While business-related crime is not
significantly higher in the East Midlands than elsewhere in the UK,
all businesses need to be aware of the risks and ensure they have
taken appropriate measures to reduce them."
Often the crimes reported could have been averted by
implementation of appropriate security measures and Business Link
continues to work with strategic partners to help raise awareness
of the issues and what positive steps can be taken.
"Often businesses in industrial and business parks can work
together to reduce crime," continues Stephen. "Our team of
locally based advisers can help businesses access information on
crime reduction and illustrate how working together can bring
mutual benefits and reduce costs.
"We can help businesses investigate how to set up secure
networks and provide access to the information and support they
need to increase security and reduce crime."
Rob Garnham, Chair of the Association of Police Authorities,
says: "Crimes against small businesses hit hard. The negative
impact on local communities across the country should not be
underestimated. Many small businesses are run by members of
the local community so it is important that those communities and
small businesses themselves have confidence that the police are
willing to act when crimes are reported.
"We would encourage any small business to work with their local
police authority if they feel they are not getting the policing
service they deserve. Police authorities are committed to working
to ensure that small businesses are supported and protected from
crime at all times."
Business Link can provide access to a range of crime reduction
factsheets and information guides for businesses.
These documents cover a comprehensive set of crime reduction
topics to help protect businesses against crimes such as theft,
fraud in international trade, internet crime, intellectual property
theft, road-freight crime and credit card fraud.