The first ever South West Business Crime Conference will be held this April in Taunton. It will bring together leaders from business; police; and local authorities to discuss some of the major issues affecting business from criminals.

There will be presentations on three of the hottest topics affecting business in the South West. Firstly, cyber-crime which is a threat to everyone but particularly smaller businesses many of whom do not have the infrastructure or knowledge base larger businesses do to protect themselves.

Rural business crime has been on the rise in recent years and presents us with a myriad of issues. From livestock theft to poaching; from the theft of machinery from farms by organized crime gangs to issues surrounding the badger culls, the importance of better protection and data sharing in the rural community is more relevant now than it has ever been.

Retail crime continues to grow year on year and again is felt by every retailer (big or small). External theft (by “customers”) and internal theft (“by employees”) presents every retailer and consumer with a real challenge. If it is not addressed robustly, losses can lead to a lack of employment opportunities and even the closure of the business.

There is still an attitude that it is a “victimless” crime but the victims are very real and unless these perceptions and attitudes are challenged, the problem will only grow. This is why the work being undertaken by Business Crime Reduction Partnerships is so important by supporting businesses with data sharing and prevention advice.

As part of the conference, the work of regional BCRPs will be showcased. From the work of town centre wardens to the potential cost savings to local authorities and police through other initiatives such as CCTV monitoring and delivery of restorative justice, regionally the BCRPs are delivering work that is not only addressing business crime issues but improving community safety and cohesion and saving the tax payer money in preventative or diversionary measures.

The final element of the conference will feature candidates for the Police & Crime Commissioner elections having a hustings on business crime issues from delegates. Business crime needs to feature more strongly in the plans of the statutory partners to ensure that crime rates decrease; businesses can grow; and that communities are safer, so it will be interesting to hear the views and pledges of the candidates at this event.

For more information on the South West Business Crime Conference, please visit www.somersetbac.org.uk

Andrew Sharman,

Somerset Businesses Against Crime