Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts has announced the launch of a new countywide business crime partnership, providing free support, crime prevention advice and information-sharing opportunities to businesses across Derbyshire.
The new model, unveiled at the “Tackling Business Crime Together” event, will remove financial barriers to participation and ensure businesses of all sizes can access support to help prevent crime, improve resilience and strengthen confidence.
The initiative builds on the success of the Derbyshire Business Crime Reduction Partnership and has been developed with support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward.
Speaking at the launch, Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said businesses had repeatedly told her they wanted a greater role in shaping solutions to crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Businesses are at the heart of our communities and local economy, but they are also increasingly facing challenges ranging from shop theft and anti-social behaviour to fraud, cybercrime and abuse directed at staff.
“What I hear time and again is that businesses want to be part of the solution. They want access to practical support, opportunities to engage with policing and partners, and confidence that their voices are being heard.
“This new partnership is about ensuring that every business, regardless of its size or ability to pay, can access the information, support and connections they need to help protect their staff, customers and livelihoods.”
The Commissioner said the traditional membership-based model of business crime partnerships had not always been accessible to all businesses, particularly during a period of continued financial pressures.
Under the new approach, membership will be free to Derbyshire businesses, enabling more organisations to share information, receive crime prevention advice and become part of a countywide network focused on reducing crime and improving business resilience.
Members will benefit from:
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Practical crime prevention advice and support
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Information on emerging crime threats and trends
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Opportunities to engage directly with policing and partner agencies
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Invitations to networking events, consultations and briefings
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Access to shared learning, technology updates and best practice
The launch event brought together businesses, policing representatives, local authorities and community safety partners to discuss the challenges facing businesses and explore opportunities for closer collaboration.
Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said partnership working would be critical to tackling business crime effectively. She said: “There is no single organisation that can solve these issues alone. Effective responses to crime are built on partnership.
“Businesses are often the first to identify emerging problems, spot patterns of offending and understand the real-world impact crime is having in their communities. Their experience and insight are invaluable.
“We want this to be something that is done with businesses, not something that is done to businesses. By working together, we can help make Derbyshire a safer, stronger and more prosperous place to do business.”
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward added: “To visit, work or shop in our region, people need to feel safe. For local businesses to thrive, business-related crime needs to be prevented or dealt with promptly. It goes without saying that theft, intimidation, anti-social behaviour, and violence is always unacceptable, and I am pleased that we have a coordinated approach to preventing this. Through our crime reduction partnership, we are working together to create conditions that keep staff and customers safe and ensure that our local business owners are supported.”
Acting Chief Constable Simon Blatchly said: “The launch of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership is a significant step in making Derbyshire an even harder place for criminals to operate.
“Business crime has a real impact on retailers, staff, and local communities and Derbyshire has, along with the rest of the country, seen a significant increase in incidents of shoplifting recently.
“However, thanks to the already good relationship between officers and businesses we are achieving one of the highest clear-up rates in the country.
“From that work it is clear that policing alone cannot tackle this challenge, and this partnership will strengthen those connections and ensure that close working with businesses, partners and the public, will help better prevent crime, target offenders and keep our town centres safe and thriving.”
The Commissioner paid tribute to the Derbyshire Business Crime Reduction Partnership team, whose work over several years has helped build trusted relationships with businesses throughout the county.
The new partnership aims to strengthen those foundations while expanding support to many more businesses, helping create safer environments for employees, customers and communities alike.
