Policing teams, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts and retailers across the UK have joined forces to take part in Safer Business Action (SaBA) Week (10-16 October), a national initiative aimed at tackling business and retail crime and strengthening relationships between police, businesses and local communities.
Coordinated and supported by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), SaBA Week brings together stakeholders in a joint effort to reduce crime and improve safety for staff and customers alike.
Last year the SaBA Week resulted in over 750 arrests across the country. Police and partners held over 640 SaBA days and events involving more than 3,400 police officers and PCSOs.
The week of action is a key part of the ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together’ strategic plan and campaign, an initiative backed by £2 million in funding from the Home Office to the NBCC.
Throughout SaBA week, police forces and their partners will be holding SaBA Days, focused, high-visibility operations designed to address the issues businesses face daily. Activities will include joint patrols, visits to local businesses, engagement events, awareness stands, and crime prevention initiatives such as property marking and security advice sessions.
These collaborative efforts aim to target prolific offenders, deter criminal activity and raise awareness of the support available to retailers and staff affected by business crime.
Each participating force will deliver activities tailored to their local area, with the common goal of improving safety and building confidence among the business community. The initiative highlights how partnership working between police, businesses, and community groups can deliver lasting results and foster safer trading environments.
Superintendent Lisa Maslen lead of the National Business Crime Centre said: “Safer Business Action Week is a valuable opportunity to focus attention on the challenges businesses face every day, while celebrating the ongoing partnership work taking place across the country.”
“The results we’ve seen from these collaborative efforts show the real impact of bringing together police, local authorities and the business community to reduce harm and create safer places to work and shop.”
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones added: “Retail crime doesn’t just harm businesses, it affects staff, customers and the wider community. This week is a powerful example of what can be achieved when police, businesses and communities work together.
“That’s why we are investing £2m to back police and business efforts to tackle retail crime and will shortly be launching a Winter of Action which will see renewed action to tackle town centre crime throughout the winter months.
“We are also restoring neighbourhood policing with 3,000 extra officers to be in place by next spring and giving the police new powers to protect retail workers and tackle theft.”
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