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OVERVIEW
  the launch  
Picture of The Launch July 2004 courtesty of Burton Mail Pictured - Chief Superintendent Keith Smy, The Mayor of the Borough of East Staffordshire Mr David Whitmore, Mrs Moira Bertoni Town Centre Manager, Mr Paul Smedley MRCI and Mr Glyn Thomas Crime Reduction Co-ordinator

The scheme is a private/public partnership which is business led. It is operated by a Board of Management from the Burton Town Centre Management Ltd Offices. We aim to work pro-actively to address business crime and disorder within Burton upon Trent town centre.

We act as the Task Group for the Town Centre within the Community Safety Partnership, thereby strengthening our links with East Staffordshire Borough Council, Staffordshire Police, The Magistrates Court, The Crown Prosecution Service and all Community Groups and Agencies within the Community Safety Partnership.

Objectives of the Scheme

  • To reduce crime, violence and fear of crime for the benefit of employees, customers and visitors to Burton upon Trent.
  • To protect visitors, customers, employees and property from acts of theft, physical violence, verbal abuse, fraud or deception and anti-social behaviour.
  • To exclude persistent criminals, troublemakers and thieves from members premises.
  • To create greater economic investment by creating and promoting a safe environment to work, live and enjoy.

We wish to thank the following for their support, help, advice and consultation:

• Directors of Burton Town Centre Management Ltd
• Staffordshire Police
• East Staffordshire Borough Council
• Midlands Regional Crime Initiative Ltd
• Business Representatives from daytime and evening economies

INITIATIVE BENEFITS

  • Becomes an effective CRIME REDUCTION strategy to be adopted by the Local Authority, Police and Businesses.
  • Reduces losses by preventing theft.
  • Develops an effective partnership between Police, Local Authority and the business community.
  • Targets the major offenders, enabling existing security staff to have more effective use of resources.
  • Enables staff of the initiative to take positive action using reference material and photographs of offenders.
  • Promotes a more relaxed environment and encourages more customers, which in turn increases trading.
  • Service of an Exclusion Notice means exclusion from all members’ premises – EXCLUDED FROM ONE, EXCLUDED FROM ALL.
  • Members work closer in partnership to share information more professionally.
  • Training for staff on related matters eg. action to take, theft, identifying suspects, what to look for etc.
  • Advice and support for all members of the BBCRP.
  • Services of a Crime Co-ordinator (ex Inspector of British Transport Police).
  • Midlands Regional Crime Initiative Ltd (M.R.C.I), where information and data is shared at 2 monthly meetings on a regional basis.
  • Lobbying the Local Authority and the Police on member’s behalf to improve systems and support.
  • To work for Burton upon Trent through the Community Safety Partnership.
  • Giving vital information and statistics to members using a Computerised Intelligence Database Scheme (ACIS).
  • Website for members information.
  • To introduce new initiatives to help prevent crime and fraud e.g. Thumbprint Scheme.
  • Liaison and services made available by the Crime Prevention Officer – Staffordshire Police.
  • Members of Action Against Business Crime (AABC).

SCHEME WORKINGS

  • Members’ premises are private property. An invitation is extended to the public to enter, normally for the purpose of trading/parking their vehicle etc. This invitation to enter can be refused at any time provided the reason for the exclusion is not racist or sexist.
  • Premises in the town of Burton upon Trent join the scheme and sign up to the Data Protection Act 1998, Code of Practice, Operating Guidelines and Constitution in accordance with Home Office guidelines. This allows certain confidential information to be legally shared between member premises, Police etc. in compliance with the Data Integrity law.
  • The serving of an Exclusion Notice on a person means that if they enter any member’s premises, they do so as a trespasser and should be requested to leave immediately. The normal law in relation to trespass applies and if necessary, allows the owner of the premises to use reasonable force to eject that person if they refuse to leave voluntarily. The whole object of the scheme is that thieves are not given the opportunity to steal or commit other offences and consequently, a considerable crime reduction is achieved.
  • Police photographs of target criminals together with photographs of persons excluded etc. are circulated to all members in order to assist in identifying excluded persons.
  • Window stickers are displayed in the member’s window showing membership of the scheme.
  • Representatives from businesses and police attend a ‘Security Meeting’. Information/intelligence and photographs are exchanged at this meeting.
  • Members are asked to complete Incident Report Forms for any incident which occurs at the premises. The information is collated and entered onto the ACIS intelligence database and will assist in the decision to serve an Exclusion Notice.
  • Any incident, whether it is theft, violence, disorder, damage or unsociable conduct, should attract the service of an Exclusion Notice.
  • The local Burton Police have agreed to assist by serving our Exclusion Notice on anyone arrested and charged.
  • The Exclusion Notice remains in force for a period of twelve months unless that person re-offends, in which case, the exclusion will be extended. There is a right of appeal to the scheme’s steering committee.
  • Information concerning each excluded person is collated by the Scheme Manager and circulated to members as necessary.
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance covers against possible litigation.
  • Services and support of 2 Town Centre Police Officers.