Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Katy Bourne OBE, has urged retailers to reach out to their local PCCs.
Speaking at the Association of Convenience Store’s Heart of the Community event in London, Bourne highlighted the roles of PCCs and how they can assist retailers in dealing with business crime.
The PCC initiative started in 2012 and consists of elected politicians who are responsible for policing budget and priorities in their county. They are elected every four years and Bourne has been the longest-serving elected PCC since 2012.
She said: “We have a responsibility for setting the priorities for policing in our local area and if that priority is business and retail crime, which it is in my plan, then when the police constables come to delivering policing, she or he has to have due regard to those responsibilities,”
“For all of you out there who are independent retailers, you need to make a note and find out who your local PCC is and go and make her or him your best friend because they are the ones who will determine the local policing response to business crime in your area.”
As a PCC, Bourne has received community safety grants and government funding for various local projects, and she encouraged retailers to ensure that their PCC’s police and crime plan features business and retail crime.
Bourne told retailers: “You must absolutely report. Police are driven by data, where they get reports come in they will then put their resources there. If they can’t measure it, they’re not going to tackle it.
“I know it takes time, that’s something we’ve worked on, I know you can sit on 101 for a long period of time, don’t do that, go onto the online reporting system and you’ll find it easier. But also reach out to your PCC and work with them.”
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