Businesses prove their credentials

Seven businesses across Peterborough and Fenland have proved themselves as safe spaces for customers in need.

On Friday Cambridgeshire Police carried out ‘test purchasing’ across a breadth of pubs and shops to test if they truly were a ‘Business Against Abuse’ (BAA).

Earlier in the year more than eighty businesses were trained on how to identify predatory behaviour and help tackle the issue of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

These organisations have been officially accredited as Business Against Abuse, meaning they have made a commitment to being a safe space for all customers, in particular women and girls, and their staff are trained in spotting predatory behaviour.

The test purchasing involved four of our very own female Volunteer Police Cadets who played the parts of distressed victims.

They took it in turns to enter stores, approach an employee and tell them they had been harassed nearby, had a dead phone and wanted to call their parents.

All seven businesses which were tested took appropriate actions of ensuring the girls weren’t in any danger, offering them a safer space to wait in and facilitating the use of a phone.

The businesses tested were:

• Ye Olde Griffin Pub, High Street, March
• Superdrug, Broad Street, March
• Manor Leisure Centre, Station Road, Whittlesey
• The Brewery Tap, Westgate, Peterborough
• The Bull Hotel, Westgate, Peterborough
• Blue Bell Inn, Werrington, Peterborough
• Serpentine Green shopping centre, Peterborough
• M&S Foodhall, Serpentine Green, Peterborough

Thankfully on this occasion the calls went into Chief Inspector Ian Lombardo who then entered the store to debrief the staff and provide feedback.

Chief Inspector Lombardo said: “It was brilliant to see all the businesses we tested have taken on board the training we gave and safeguarded the girls. All the businesses tested put in good protective measures but I’d like to highlight Serpentine Green security and the M&S Foodhall who went above and beyond for the girls.

“Sadly, the scenario we devised is not make believe, it’s a very real experience which many people will understand. Therefore, it’s reassuring we now have a network of businesses that are committed to tackling violence against women and girls. The staff know how to spot the signs of predatory behaviour and have the confidence to take action that could prevent a sexual offence.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to the Cadets for their time and very convincing acting skills, we will continue these test purchases in the future to ensure everyone is up to speed with the training.”

The development of the accreditation has been funded by the Home Office’s Safer Streets 4 scheme and you can identify a BAA premises from the distinctive plaques and posters as pictured.