Focussing on business crime

Officers from the Stevenage Neighbourhood Policing team have been carrying out ‘Safer Business Action Days’ throughout March, to help tackle retail crime and reduce theft offences.

This action has been carried out as part of an initiative launched by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), in response to soaring retail crime across the country.

Proactive patrols have been conducted in hotspot locations and officers have been visiting local business that are regularly targeted. They have also carried out business safety surveys and given crime prevention advice.

Yesterday (Tuesday 27 March) PCs Harry Histed and Lukas Haase visited retail outlets in Bragbury End as part of the initiative.

Several arrests have also been made throughout the month. Patrick Turner, aged 33, from Stevenage was recently arrested and given a custodial sentence for shoplifting offences committed at the One Stop Shop in Bragbury End and at the Co-Op in Broadwater.

Another local man was also recently sentenced for shoplifting offences. Dean Jeffreys, aged 43, and of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with two shop lifting offences at Morrisons and the Co-op, on Wednesday 20 March. He went to court the next day and received a 14 week sentence for both offences.

Neighbourhood Inspector Nick Redfearn said: “Business crime is a focus all year round for us and is a policing priority for my teams. However, these special focus days give us a chance to build on our regular patrols and engagement, to ensure that businesses are equipped to reduce offences and know how to report crime efficiently and effectively, should it occur.

“They also reinforce the message that we take these offences seriously and that offenders could face a custodial sentence if they are caught, so good reporting and evidence capture is important.

“We have also been encouraging shops to sign up to the Shop Watch, which sees businesses and police working together to reduce anti-social behaviour and theft offences, and to improve staff safety.”