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Business Watch is the term used to describe a
group of businesses located together with the common aim of
reducing crime. Business Watch
is most successful when a partnership approach is employed to
tackle a diverse range of crime reduction initiatives.
Business Watch belongs to the
community. Wherever you work, you are part of the community. Your
company may be large or small, in a factory, office or workshop.
Unfortunately, criminals don't take any notice of size. They will
have a go at anything!
It is easy to shrug it off and assume it won't happen to you or
that little can be done anyway. In fact, a great deal can be done
to prevent crime. The police cannot, these days, be expected to do
it all, and each of us has a role to play by becoming actively
involved in crime prevention.
The Police provide their full backing to
Business Watch Initiatives and where they have been introduced
crime levels have been significantly reduced.
The partnership approach includes establishing
speedy channels of communication, capable of passing quick,
accurate information between companies to keep ahead of criminals.
This can be via pagers and
regular contact through meetings and newsletters. Networking
between companies is also encouraged, enabling experiences and
knowledge to be pooled for the greater good. Best practice can be
identified and shared with others. The partnership ethos has
further advantages; products and services from suppliers in the
security field can be negotiated collectively for the best deals.
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What are the
benefits of joining the Business Watch Scheme?
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1. A security co-ordinator in the form of the
Business Watch Manager working on behalf of the members.
2. Organisations working in partnership with the common aim of
reducing crime on the Business Park.
3. Increased awareness of security problems and the various
measures used to combat them.
4. Collective negotiated buying power providing better products
and services for member companies.
5. Increased communication systems, through a variety of mediums
such as Pagers (providing
rapid and accurate information), newsletters, regular meetings and
networking, to keep everyone informed when incidents occur on the
estate.
6. Information exchange of best practices adopted by member
companies
7. A security audit of members' company premises, highlighting
areas for concern including recommendations for securing premises
and property.
8. Business Watch signage for premises and employees' vehicles.
9. Dog patrols on the estate providing rapid response supporting
local police on the Business Park.
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| > Business Watch |
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| > Business Watch Marlow |
In 1994 more than £1.25 million worth of computer equipment alone
was stolen from Globe Business Park. Many organisations found
themselves repeatedly targeted and with losses mounting, insurance
premiums and excesses were on the increase. Business was being
profoundly affected, organisations were considering relocation and
staff morale suffered.
As a result of this rapidly rising crime rate, and the problems
that came with it, Globe Park Business Watch was formed. This has
been running successfully since late in 1994, and in the first
twelve months there was a 75% reduction in computer crime levels,
losses were down to under £500,000 and other incidents, including
car crime, were also on a downward trend.
In the first eight months of 1996 the total recorded commercial
burglary costs went down to just under £25,000 pounds. The
reporting of suspicious incidents is on the increase as
organisations and their employees become more security conscious.
This increase in vigilance has resulted in a number of arrests and
the raising of morale among businesses. |
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