News

Safer Business Action Day Cardiff took place on 7th March 2024 as part of the National Business Crime Centre Safer Business Action (SaBa) Month.

Safer Business Action (SaBA) Days are a joint approach by police, business, private security, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs) and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) working in partnership to focus resources into a designated location to create a significant impact to reduce crime.

Cardiff Against Business Crime, South Wales Police, British Transport Police and the Cardiff Council Warden Team coordinated resources and businesses arranged additional security cover for the day.

The team was comprised of three special constables, police response officers from on duty teams, the Cardiff City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team police constables and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) who provided high visibility patrols and visited stores before and during the day to brief staff.

This was supplemented by plain clothes officers who were deployed to the main shopping areas.

While uniformed staff and the Cardiff Council’s City Centre Warden Team focused on areas considered to be anti social behaviour hotspots.

Six arrests were made including a prolific shoplifting offender. There were 56 stop and accounts and 136 educational engagement with staff and members of the public.

Feedback on the day was positive and it was felt the high profile action day had reassured store staff their customers and visitors to the city centre.

Cliff Vanstone the Chair of Cardiff Against Business Crime and Head of Branch at John Lewis & Partners Cardiff said:

I am grateful to our partners in the Police and Council and to the security staff of our member businesses for taking part in the operation. It demonstrates how effective we can be in driving down retail crime when we coordinate our efforts.

I look forward to the next operation and commend the efforts of the partners day to day as we continue to make sure Cardiff is a safe place to shop visit live and spend leisure time.

The annual Safer Action Business Day takes place in October and plans are in place to deliver another partnership crime reduction operation.

To find out more about Cardiff Against Business Crime please email ian@forcardiff.com

We are pleased to see the announcement that assaulting a retail worker will be made a specific offense in England and Wales.

Retail workers deserve a safe working environment and the full protection of the law. Reports of assaults on retail workers have increased dramatically and our high streets, and the people working on them, deserve better.

Cliff Vanstone, Chair of Cardiff Against Business Crime, Cardiff’s business crime reduction partnership said,

Today’s breaking news is the result of months of hard work from a wide range of partners who should be rightly proud of their efforts in championing the safety of those that work in retail. Nobody should face violence in the workplace and the rising rate of assaults reported on shop workers has made it clear that something needed to be done.

Shop-lifting remains a key issue for businesses on the high street and we continue to advocate for serious action in this area particularly when it comes to organised crime and persistent offenders.

These crimes are having a serious impact of business bottom lines at a time of acute financial pressure and we encourage politicians and police to take action on this issue.

At the most recent Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) meeting on Thursday 16th February, Cliff Vanstone, Head of John Lewis & Partners Cardiff and Vice Chair of FOR Cardiff, was appointed as Chair of Cardiff Against Business Crime (CABC) – Cardiff’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP).

Being a Partner within the John Lewis Partnership for 29 years, Cliff started his career on the selling floor working through the ranks of management across various locations of the UK including London, Bristol and Kingston. Cliff’s extensive retail experience will be invaluable to the BCRP in terms of addressing apathy amongst the sector, and engaging with businesses so they may benefit from the resources the BCRP provides.

In his opening speech, Cliff noted his passion about the direction of the partnership and it’s achievement aims. He looks forward to chairing future meetings and creating a better environment in the city centre for traders, workers and visitors.

Cardiff Community Alcohol Partnership has received a national award for its work promoting safe drinking among the city’s student population.

CAP co-chair Ian Tumelty, Business Crime Reduction Manager at FOR Cardiff, Cardiff Against Business Crime and coordinator of the Cardiff Business Partnership Night-Time Economy Group, was at CAP’s celebration event at Westminster on June 6 to receive the award.

The award was presented by Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. He said:

“I am delighted to present this award for work in reaching out to 18-25 year olds to Cardiff CAP, which has worked so hard to reduce anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related violence and health risks from high levels of intoxication among students.

The Cardiff CAP was set up in 2018 – the first to address alcohol use in the student population – working alongside the universities and college, students’ unions, police, Cardiff Council, the Cardiff and Vale Local Public Health Team and the night-time economy.

Cardiff CAP is a fantastic example of the power of partnership to bring together and build a fantastic range of resources, training and support to encourage the positive health and wellbeing of its student population.  Many congratulations to Lauren, Ian and to Cardiff CAP.”

Since CAP was created 15 years ago, more than 250 schemes have been launched in England, Scotland and Wales. They bring together local stakeholders with a shared interest in preventing underage drinking and encouraging responsible drinking among young adults.

CAP partnerships are made up of retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and health providers, all working together to protect young people from alcohol harm.

In January 2020, the Cardiff Community Alcohol Partnership was awarded CAP of the Year (Wales) at the annual CAP celebration at the House of Lords.

CAP’s annual report, launched at the event, shows how this innovative partnership approach has brought significant reductions to children’s drinking, anti-social behaviour and underage sales in areas where it has created local partnerships.

Nationally, CAP evaluations show:

• 62% reduction in weekly drinking for 13-16 year olds
• After CAP training, 98% of retailers passed a Challenge 25 compliance test – from an average baseline of 50%
• 42% reduction in anti-social behaviour
• 68% reduction in residents reporting children and young people drinking in public places to be a very big or fairly big problem

CAP Director Kate Winstanley says:

“I’m delighted that in CAP areas around the country we are seeing such sustained reductions in regular drinking and anti-social behaviour among young people. CAPs are having a significant impact on reducing children’s alcohol consumption, improving their health and wellbeing and enhancing the communities where they live.”

CAP’s 2021/2022 annual report can be viewed here.

Cardiff Against Business Crime (CABC), which has made concerted efforts to protect vulnerable people – customers and staff – in the hospitality, licensed trade and night-time economy sectors, has successfully renewed its National Standards Accreditation.

CABC is a Business Crime Reduction Partnership which operates within FOR Cardiff – Cardiff’s Business Improvement District (BID).

It protects businesses by providing its members with the tools and intelligence to prevent, detect and reduce business crime as well as make the city a safer place for everyone to enjoy.

Member businesses include retail premises, pubs, clubs and hotels from across Cardiff City Centre to Cardiff Bay.

All members are connected to partners through the CityNet Public Safety Radio system for retail and night-time economy venues in Cardiff City Centre. The CityNet radio terminal is located in the CCTV control room at Cardiff County Hall and is monitored by a police officer 24/7, 365 days a year.

Another major benefit for members is the DISC intelligence and incident sharing network, which contributes to stock loss prevention by identifying and targeting offenders. The radio and DISC systems together provide an effective communications network to provide up-to-date information on current offenders and local crime trends.

Members are also supported via free industry-specific training courses to educate staff and improve community safety. These courses are run with the support of key organisations that have front-line experience.

CABC worked in partnership with British Transport Police and Cardiff and District Hoteliers Group to train hoteliers on how to identify and report young people at risk from child exploitation and county-lines drugs gangs. They also partnered with New Pathways, a sexual assault referral charity, to educate staff working in the licensed industry on how to intervene early to protect people who may be at risk of trauma or sexual violence.

Free online Drinkaware training is also available to licensed venues to help staff working in the evening and night-time economy recognise the vulnerability of customers who may have consumed too much alcohol.

Hosted and funded by FOR Cardiff, CABC works in partnership with key organisations like South Wales Police, British Transport Police, Cardiff Council, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Cardiff Licensees Forum.

CABC received its National Standards Accreditation from Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, a police-owned organisation that works alongside police forces to reduce crime and build safer communities.

Adrian Field, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff, said:

“Cardiff Against Business Crime continues to move from strength to strength. From establishing an effective radio network in its first year to working with partners to achieve Purple Flag status for Cardiff, CABC continues to not only meet but also exceed national standards.”

CABC is led by Business Crime Reduction Manager, Ian Tumelty, who joined the partnership in 2018 following a 30-year career with South Wales Police where he worked as an Inspector and led many multi-agency projects to reduce violence and alcohol misuse.

Ian worked with the Home Office’s ‘Ending Gangs and Serious Youth Violence’ programme as an independent advisor and as a member of its peer review team. He is the current Chair of the Wales Against Business Crime Group and Wales representative on the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships. He is also the Purple Flag Co-ordinator for the Cardiff Community Safety Partnership’s Night-Time Economy Group.

Ian said he was delighted that the National Standards accreditation had been renewed after two years.

“It is a further endorsement of the work we are doing. Our strong partnerships form a network of businesses and agencies working together to reduce crime and make Cardiff a safer place for all to enjoy.”

The BCRP assessment was carried out by Bob Bevan, of the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships. In his summary, he praised CABC for having a strong community safety working ethos that supports businesses and the community.

“Cardiff Against Business Crime’s radio scheme is well-established, well run and operated by its members and public agencies. The availability of a police officer viewing CCTV with direct communication with members and operational police units no doubt supports its effectiveness for both private and public sector organisations in a busy city centre.”

Guy Collyer, who leads on BCRPs for Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, said:

“CABC is well-rooted in good management practices and works effectively with members. The training it has provided to protect vulnerable people, particularly young people, is outstanding – and shows how much CABC is in tune with the police and other organisations about what’s important to achieve safer places.”

The BCRP National Standards Award is based on a set of standards owned by the National Business Crime Centre and includes good management practices and procedures to ensure BCRPs are functioning in an ethical and professional manner within the law.

The assessment includes membership agreements, data security and compliance with current legislation, specifically General Data Protection Regulation. It involves demonstrating that information received by members and partner organisations is robust, up to date and easily accessible 24/7. For some BCRPs, the standards will include the use of CCTV and radio links with members.

Chair of Cardiff Against Business Crime, Rory Fleming, said:

“We are pleased to be one of the first partnerships in the UK to be reaccredited to these high standards and it shows that our business and partners can be confident that we are doing all we can to reduce business crime.”

It is expected that the National Standards will enhance the level of partnership working around the country and encourage continued, significant, national business investment in BCRPs. In addition, the intention is that it will provide reassurance to police forces that data shared with BCRP partner organisations will be utilised in a responsible manner to reduce criminal activity.