Chamber leads fight against business crime
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and Nottinghamshire Police have formed a public/private sector partnership which they say will step up the fight against business crime.
The chamber and police have agreed to a joint venture to boost security in areas with high crime rates. They will also work alongside businesses to develop and introduce self-sustainable BusinessWatch schemes, which they say will utilise police expertise and reduce firms’ expenditure.
Three pilot sites have been identified – Lowmoor Road Industrial Estate in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Harworth Industrial Estate and Glaisdale Drive Industrial Estate in Nottingham.
The chamber said that business crime costs UK firms an estimated £12.6bn a year, which equates locally to £196.5m in Nottinghamshire. Recent figures show that the average business loses £5,000 to crime every year.
Scott Knowles, the chamber’s deputy chief executive, said: “This new approach to fighting business crime is unique to Nottinghamshire and is a true example of how private sector businesses and public sector organisations can work together effectively. Together, we will ensure that a reduction in public sector funding will not lead to a loss of service for local firms.”
