Safer Business Action Days in East Herts

Officers across East Herts have conducted several ‘Safer Business Action Days’ throughout March, as part of continuing efforts to help reduce theft offences.

The 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, members of the public have been spoken to and several arrests have been made.

Neighbourhood Inspector Mark Collins said: “Business crime is a focus all year round for us, as we understand the impact it can have.

“However, additional days of action help to reinforce the message that we take these offences seriously and we will not tolerate those who target the hardworking people of East Herts.

“These events and operations have been a chance for us 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.”

Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth

Officers are continuing to work alongside local businesses following a meeting with town centre retailers in November, to discuss ways in which they can work together to reduce crime.

Over the past month, proactive patrols have continued, and officers have kept in contact with local retailers and security teams.

Five arrests have also been made during March, resulting in one man being sent to prison for several theft offences.

In addition, officers from the Scorpion and Neighbourhood Policing teams conducted a plain-clothed operation in the town centre. A man was seen acting suspiciously outside a charity shop, where several thefts had been reported. He was stopped and spoken to, to check that everything was all in order.

East Herts Rural

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team have conducted regular patrols at the Co-op in Buntingford to help deter shoplifting and maintain good links with staff.

Hertford

Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team held crime prevention stalls on the Madford Retail Park and at Aldi.

They also visited the Co-op in Sele Farm along with a crime prevention officer, to discuss ways in which offences could be reduced.

In additional, a meeting was held with businesses due to open at the new Bircherly Green development, to review security plans.

Ware and Stanstead Abbotts

The Neighbourhood Policing Team has hosted crime prevention stalls at Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Ware and at the Co-op in Stanstead Abbotts.

They have also conducted proactive patrols and visited business to ensure that Shop Watch folders are up to date. The Shop Watch initiative sees businesses and police working together to reduce anti-social behaviour and theft offences, and to improve staff safety. This is mainly achieved through the timely sharing of information.