25 arrests made during ‘Safer Business Action’ days

A week of action to tackle business crime across Cambridgeshire resulted in 25 people being arrested and almost 250 businesses visited.

Following the success of the National Business Crime Centre’s (NBCC) week of action in October last year, police forces across the country were asked to conduct Safer Business Action Days (SaBA Days) during the month of March 2024 to tie in with the traditional rise in retail crime in the spring.

 

 

A week of action was held across Cambridgeshire between 18 and 24 March, which saw police working with retailers and private security in defined areas for days of targeted activity including high-visibility patrols, proactive activity against known offenders and crime prevention initiatives.

In Cambridgeshire, Neighbourhood Policing Teams spent a total of 529 hours engaging with 249 different businesses across the county, offering crucial advice on safeguarding their establishments, as well as patrolling in key areas including around market stalls, shops, post offices, libraries, banks, building sites, trades businesses and pubs.

 

The targeted activity saw 25 arrests made for various offences relating to business crime, including shoplifting, business burglary, breaching Criminal Behaviour Orders, assaults criminal damage and possession of weapons. Of these arrests, 60 separate charges were made, with 32 for theft from a shop.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Sam Tucker, who lead the week of action, said: “Over recent months we have been working hard to improve the support we give our businesses in the ongoing battle against crimes like shoplifting and abuse directed towards their staff.

“There can be a misconception that ‘lower-level’ criminality such as theft, retail crime and criminal damage are less important and given less priority than other crimes. However, we recognise the impact these offences have on victims, businesses and employees including financial loss, abuse, threats and intimidation.

“We work throughout the year with partner agencies to prevent these types of crime, however the week of action provided an opportunity to really focus our efforts on our business communities and work with them to drive down crime.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and put before the courts anyone committing offences in Cambridgeshire.”

 

 

Information about protecting a business from crime can be found on the force’s dedicated business crime prevention webpage.

Further information about the national SaBA Days can be found on the news section of the NBCC's website.