Ipswich police and businesses unite to tackle retail crime ahead of Safer Business Week

Why it matters: Retail crime affects local businesses, their staff, and the broader community. This initiative aims to address these issues in Ipswich and Suffolk proactively.

The big picture: The Suffolk Retail Crime Forum, held at Ipswich Town Football Club, precedes Safer Business Week (14-20 October), a national week of action focused on retail crime prevention.

Key details:

• Chief Constable Rachel Kearton and Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore opened the event.

• Presentations covered targeting organised crime and using technology to improve communication between businesses.

• The Ipswich Town Foundation discussed their Divert and Kicks programmes, which aim to steer young people away from crime.

• Discussions focused on securing retail parks, tackling retail crime from retailers' perspectives, and how Business Improvement Districts can support national efforts.

What they're saying:

Supt Andy Martin: "This event was an opportunity to revitalise our collective commitment to tackle retail and business crime. Our local figures show roughly three quarters of retail crime relates to theft, while a quarter relates to an element of violence used and all too often, sadly, it is a combination of both."

Tim Passmore, Police and Crime Commissioner: "The whole day was very informative and an excellent example of how a joint approach from business, voluntary and the public sector can come together and tackle this form of criminality."

Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central: "Having recently started in my role, I am reassured to see the commitment by police with this collaborative working approach and with this initiative it is a positive step forward to reinforce that commitment."

What's next: During Safer Business Week, police will engage with retailers, provide crime prevention advice, conduct high-visibility patrols, and gather intelligence. They'll encourage businesses to report incidents online and use the Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) to share evidence electronically.

The bottom line: This forum marks a significant step in Ipswich's fight against retail crime, emphasising collaboration between police, businesses, and community organisations to create safer retail environments.