SHOPS and other businesses can get help to combat crime as they reopen across Warwickshire.
As people return to town centres as companies re-open or scaling their operations up to more normal levels, the chief of Warwickshire Police has reminded businesses to ensure they benefit from membership of Warwickshire Business Watch.
The scheme, run by Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County Council’s Community Safety Team and the Police and Crime Commissioner, aims to provide information and advice to businesses and retailers on how they can protect themselves from crime.
Throughout the lockdown period, the Business Watch website has been updated by Business Crime Advisor Bogdan Fironda, a Police Crime Prevention Design Advisor and two Police Volunteers.
The website features the latest alerts about crime affecting businesses as well as detailed crime prevention advice on a wide range of topics.
Businesses can also find links to other groups which provide support – including Trading Standards, the Safe in Warwickshire team and Action Fraud – and details of the team behind Business Watch and their contact details.
In recent weeks, Business Watch has provided information to help businesses as they begin to re-open, including overviews of the changing legislation and advice on cyber security as many firms seek to bolster their online offerings.
Recent updates have included tips to help businesses ensure they are Covid secure, the latest on Covid-19-related scams which can affect businesses, and practical guidance for those firms operating click-and-collect services.
There’s also a free Business Watch Messaging System which delivers incident email alerts, along with a weekly newsletter.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “Lockdown has been incredibly tough for businesses and retailers across the county. As they now begin to return to more normal levels of operation, it’s important that the opportunities for them to fall victim of crime are minimised.
“That’s why I am keen to encourage them to become members of Business Watch. By working together in partnership with the police and community safety teams, businesses and retailers can help to make themselves more secure and help ensure that criminals don’t profit from an already tough situation.”
Visit www.warwickshirebusinesswatch.co.uk for more information, and to sign up to the newsletter and email alerts.