Cheshire Constabulary and local retailers come together in support of National Safer Business Week

Officers from across the force intensified their efforts in tackling shoplifting and anti-social behaviour as part of National Safer Business Week.

National Safer Business Week ran from Monday 16 October to Sunday 22 October as part of a nationwide week of action to crack down on anti-social behaviour in shops as well as tackling some of Cheshire's most prolific shoplifting offenders.

They targeted key retail sites, smaller businesses and industrial estates with initiatives designed to protect property and businesses across the county - including the ShopKind campaign which aims to prevent and challenge violence and abuse against shop workers.

The Constabulary worked alongside their partner agencies, including the Wilmslow, Warrington and Crewe Business Improvement Districts (BID), the Cheshire West and Chester Wardens and Chester Against Business Crime, to engage with over 300 local residents and retailers.

Officers also distributed a Crime Prevention Self-Assessment survey to retailers over the course of the week, detailing how traders can better protect their businesses and to spot any potential vulnerabilities within their own security. Retailers can request a copy of the survey by emailing [email protected]

There were also great examples of proactive policing seen throughout the week.

Patrols across the county were stepped up, with a number of incidents of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour being deterred as a result. 

In Warrington, officers were alerted by members of the public that a disruptive customer was verbally abusing staff in a branch of Lloyds bank. A quick-thinking officer swiftly intervened and detained the individual, only to discover that he was wanted in relation to other offences. He was then taken into custody.

Eagle-eyed officers in Chester also spotted two individuals linked to historic shoplifting offences in both Chester and North Wales. The men were subsequently arrested and detained, before being sent to North Wales Police to be charged.

While in Macclesfield, the Neighbourhood Beat Team secured a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against a prolific shoplifter who had been targeting retailers across the town for over two decades. Under the CBO, the 39-year-old man has been banned from entering several retailers and will be committing a criminal offence which may result in recall to prison or fine if he breaks the order.

Chief Inspector Darren Griffiths, Force Lead for Safer Business Week, said:

“The week of action is an opportunity to bring police and partners together to tackle the key issues of business crime in their communities. The Constabulary has held various crime prevention activities and initiatives across the week designed to increase engagement with local businesses and retail outlets.

"This week has also highlighted some great results that were a direct result of the hard work our officers put in when it comes to tackling shoplifting and bringing the most prolific offenders in the county to justice.

"By forming close links and working alongside the local businesses and retailers, and our own partner organisations, we can better protect commercial properties, safeguard their staff and customers and prevent any future offending."

Anyone with any information regarding business related crime is asked to call Cheshire Police on 101 or give us the details via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.