Last week, as part of National Safer Business Action Week, officers from Lancashire Police, joined forces with partners to tackle business crime across the county. 

Neighbourhood policing teams from Blackburn, Preston and Blackpool set up stalls in local shops and shopping centres along with partners from Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC), Business Improvement District (BID) and the security teams from St George’s Shopping Centre in Preston, The Mall in Blackburn and M&S in Blackpool. 

Officers also provided a visible presence in the area, engaging with different businesses and providing crime prevention advice to proactively deter crime.

Anna Baybutt, business crime co-ordinator for Lancashire Police, said: “This week of action shines the spotlight on the work that we carry out every day to help support businesses through prevention, intelligence, enforcement and reassurance.

“Our ASB prevention and problem solving team work closely with businesses on target hardening measures and we work with retailers who might be concerned about things like violence against staff, theft and anti-social behaviour.

“We will continue to work in collaboration with businesses to develop long term solutions to business crime.”

LANPAC joined officers, offering crime prevention advice and free merchandise aimed at reducing crime. They also talked to businesses about the benefits of joining the partnership.

Al Yusuf, LANPAC manager, said: “Lancashire Partnership Against Crime is a unique collaboration between Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire businesses and public services working together to reduce levels of crime and disorder across the county.

“The partnership uses revenue from members’ subscriptions to fund local community safety projects throughout Lancashire.

“Over the past 31 years, we have supported countless initiatives, all directed at making the people of Lancashire feel safe and reassured in their homes and within their local neighbourhoods”.

You can report a crime to us online or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.