Pledge to tackle business crime

A PLEDGE to tackle crimes that affect businesses such as robbery, people not paying and staff stealing, has been made by Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer.
He says that although figures for business crime in Cheshire and Warrington are “very low” he wants to work with the community to reduce it further.
He met business people from across the county to hear about their concerns, discuss their priorities and ask for their views on the budget and council tax for policing.
Business organisations such as chambers of commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors also talked about their concerns.
Mr Dwyer said: “A vitally important part of my role is to represent the views of the business community when holding the Chief Constable to account.
“I have made sure that my first police and crime plan reflects this area of policing and I intend to make it my business to ensure that the police work hard to further reduce crimes such as robbery from businesses, theft by employees, shoplifting and making off without payment.”
He said business leaders raised issues such as how to prevent on-line credit card fraud, metal theft and how to assist the policing of hauliers. They also discussed the need for businesses to report crime to the police and not simply accept losses from crime as inevitable.
Mr Dwyer said: “The figures for business crime in Cheshire are very low. Last year just 91 business robberies were reported, a 14 per cent decrease on the previous year. Commercial burglary fell by 16 per cent.
“In this economic climate, the police and businesses need to work together to ensure that we are doing all we can. I have seen some great work being done by the police at ground level; for example, in helping to prevent people making off from fuel stations without paying.”
Picture: John Dwyer meets business leaders.