Wiltshire Police continue efforts to address business crime

Local policing teams across Wiltshire carried out over 100 additional public engagements during Safer Business Action (SaBA) week, which took place from last Monday, 10 November, to Sunday 16 November.

Safer Business Action Week is a national week of action in collaboration with the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), tackling retail crime. Over the course of the week, officers and PCSOs from across Wiltshire visited businesses to understand any concerns they had and offer crime prevention advice where required. Any areas of concern raised will help form the local policing teams’ upcoming priorities.

Safer Business Action Week aims to strengthen the partnership working between retailers, security, local authorities, and policing to tackle business crime through prevention. Enhanced partnership working improves intelligence sharing to bring offenders to justice and improve safety for those working in retail.

The week of activity saw police working alongside partner agencies to ensure any concerns could be tackled proactively, by the correct authority. Local policing teams based in Devizes and Warminster carried out joint patrols of town centres alongside Wiltshire Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team. In Salisbury, officers joined Wiltshire Trading Standards on visits to retail premises in the city centre to offer crime prevention and safety advice.

Warminster Neighbourhood Inspector Lou Oakley is one of two Force leads for business crime.

Inspector Oakley said: “I am extremely passionate about working with our retailers to tackle shoplifting and protect shop workers. We recognise many retail workers face persistent aggressive, threatening behaviour from retail crime offenders, and this is not acceptable.

“We want to reassure those working in the retail sector, and members of the public, that we are committed to tackling business crime. Part of my ongoing work as Operational Lead is addressing the root cause of persistent offending, which has led to the introduction of initiatives such as the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) panels.”

One of the ways police can proactively address persistent offending is by applying for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for prolific offenders. A CBO outlines certain restrictions to prevent re-offending. This can include the individual being excluded from a specific shop, chain of shops, or areas of town/city centres.

CBO panels have been set up in Wiltshire by Force Leads on Business Crime, Inspector Louise Oakley and Inspector David Tippetts, where police meet with partner agencies to discuss an offender’s suitability for a CBO. Partner agencies in attendance include probation, Connect (drug and alcohol dependency support), mental health advisors, and housing associations.

The CBO panels provide a holistic approach, ensuring that each offender receives the correct support from the appropriate authorities before an application for a CBO is made to the courts.

Inspector Lou Oakley continues: “In the fight against business crime, collaboration is key. By establishing a Criminal Behaviour Order panel, we can harness diverse insights and expertise, transforming challenges into strategic initiatives that safeguard our economy and community. This highlights the value of teamwork and a multifaceted approach in tackling business-related criminal activities.

“We need the public to report incidents of theft or threatening behaviour to us by calling 999 if a crime is in progress, or via our website in a non-emergency.”

Currently, there are 27 active CBOs in place across Wiltshire. To find out more about CBO enforcement in Wiltshire, watch our YouTube video here.

More information about the Business Crime Reduction Partnership launched in Salisbury as part of SaBA Week, can be found on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website here.