Business Crime Unit Business Newsletter
Christmas Retail
The festive season is often a time where offences impacting businesses increase.
Here are our ‘12 tips of Christmas’ to protect your business.
Here are our ‘12 tips of Christmas’ to protect your business.
- In 2020 Christmas Day is a Friday. This means that your business may be closed for an extended period, possibly not reopening until the 29th December. Make sure that any cash on the premises has been stored securely or banked prior to the long weekend. Vary the times you take money to the bank and ensure as few as people as possible are aware of the details. Check the bank opening hours as they may change during the festive season.
- Consider where you place high value stock. Positioned close to the tills and where staff are located will provide additional security. If possible utilise dummy packages for some stock which require them to be taken to the till and paid for to get the real product.
- Have a staff member provide a 'Meet & Greet' service at the main entrance to your premises. Ensure they are clearly identifiable as staff and that they speak to visitors and customers. This can deter shoplifters.
- Have staff regularly tour the shop floor to provide customer service and to look out for suspcious customers who may be trying to hide their activites from staff located at till points.
- Ensure CCTV is well positioned to prevent theft and to record evidence, regularly check that it is working as it should and that signs alerting people to its presence are visible. With the advent of darker mornings and evenings check that any lighting supporting the CCTV system is fit for purpose.
- Face coverings can be used to hide identities and current guidelines reguire face masks to be worn inside retail premises. You can request for masks to be removed for identification purposes or for age identification purposes when buying age restricted products.
- If a customer causes difficulties in your store it is recommended that you ask for an additional staff member to be in the vicinity. They can provide support and bear witness to any altercations. If possible encourage the customer to an area covered by CCTV.
- Think about what action you would take in the event of an emergency incident. Where could you, your staff and customers go to stay safe or to exit the premises quickly? Ensure that all staff are aware of any emergency plans.
- If you are decorating your store for the festive season ensure that they are fire safe, away from combustibles, in good condition and decorations or extra stock won't impede emergency exits.
- Be aware of anything that might be out of place or suspicious. Bags and items being left unattended and individuals taking note of security arrangements. Remember See it, Say it, Sorted. It it better to report something suspicious and have it be nothing than have a serious incident.
- Make sure you and your staff report incidents to the police. You can use 101, Do it Online and the online Live Chat facility for non-urgent matters.
- Call 999 immediately if; it feels like the situation could get heated or violent, the crime is in progress, someone is in immediate danger.
CCTV Evidence—Ensuring best practice
Obtaining the best CCTV evidence in a timely manner is crucial when trying to achieve a charge and positive conviction.
When an offence occurs, a victim or informant would report this to Essex Police on 999 in an emergency, 101 in a non-emergency situation or through
our online portal on the Essex Police website.
The informant will then be given a reference number and if the incident requires investigation it will be allocated to an officer who will take charge of the
case (an OIC) This officer will make contact with you.
Where it is identified that there is viable CCTV evidence of any offence, this evidence will need to be exhibited in the case. If there are images of unidentified suspects, victims are encouraged to send these still images via the secure Essex Police email address which will be given to you by the OIC. This helps to expedite the identification of suspects with a quicker turnaround in bringing the offender to justice.
GDPR and Data Protection allow for the sharing of images with the police for the purposes of detecting or preventing crime. Plus our email addresses
are a secure method to send to.
Where informants are unable to send still images electronically over secure email due to limitations with their hardware, a CCTV evidence pack will be sent out by recorded post or can be obtained from a police station. Unfortunately due to resourcing and demands, officers no longer have the time to be able to collect CCTV from informants, so once the pack is completed and CCTV images copied, it must be posted back to us or taken to the nearest Police station. Both options are compliant under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
By obtaining stills from you, we can then start the identification process. If we receive a positive identification, we would then require the video
evidence to help secure a charge. The informant will be advised to retain the CCTV video recording for one month pending any suspect identification.
Under GDPR a signature is not required from an officer or member of police staff for your continuation purposes or to state that your images have been received. You can make a note of this yourself by keeping the email of the stills, obtaining a proof of postage or recorded delivery slip or by asking for the details of the officer taking hard copies from you at a police station counter.
The CCTV pack will contains:
Obtaining the best CCTV evidence in a timely manner is crucial when trying to achieve a charge and positive conviction.
When an offence occurs, a victim or informant would report this to Essex Police on 999 in an emergency, 101 in a non-emergency situation or through
our online portal on the Essex Police website.
The informant will then be given a reference number and if the incident requires investigation it will be allocated to an officer who will take charge of the
case (an OIC) This officer will make contact with you.
Where it is identified that there is viable CCTV evidence of any offence, this evidence will need to be exhibited in the case. If there are images of unidentified suspects, victims are encouraged to send these still images via the secure Essex Police email address which will be given to you by the OIC. This helps to expedite the identification of suspects with a quicker turnaround in bringing the offender to justice.
GDPR and Data Protection allow for the sharing of images with the police for the purposes of detecting or preventing crime. Plus our email addresses
are a secure method to send to.
Where informants are unable to send still images electronically over secure email due to limitations with their hardware, a CCTV evidence pack will be sent out by recorded post or can be obtained from a police station. Unfortunately due to resourcing and demands, officers no longer have the time to be able to collect CCTV from informants, so once the pack is completed and CCTV images copied, it must be posted back to us or taken to the nearest Police station. Both options are compliant under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
By obtaining stills from you, we can then start the identification process. If we receive a positive identification, we would then require the video
evidence to help secure a charge. The informant will be advised to retain the CCTV video recording for one month pending any suspect identification.
Under GDPR a signature is not required from an officer or member of police staff for your continuation purposes or to state that your images have been received. You can make a note of this yourself by keeping the email of the stills, obtaining a proof of postage or recorded delivery slip or by asking for the details of the officer taking hard copies from you at a police station counter.
The CCTV pack will contains:
- An introductory letter;
- A guide to completing the pack;
- A Stamped Addressed Envelope for postage back to the Essex Police Resolution Centre;
- A purpose made self-seal polythene envelope for additional security when the completed pack is returned.
- A Data Protection Act 2018 disclaimer.
- A blank recordable DVD/USB depending upon the type of CCTV system used.
- A part completed Video Tape evidence bag for signing
- A part completed statement pro forma specific to the collection of CCTV
If you would like any further information or advice please contact the Essex Police Business Crime Unit at business.crime.unit@essex.police.uk
Employer Supported Policing
Imagine if one of your employees was a Police Officer with the same policing powers as a regular officer!
Essex police are offering to train your staff in return for their time, however much that might be, helping to protect the wider community. THERE IS NO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
The Business Crime Unit are looking at ways we can work together with the Employer Supported Policing team to reduce crime against business.
Many employers will have heard about or taken part in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, allowing their staff who are military reservists paid time off to fulfil those duties. So why not do the same for police reserves. With more benefits for your business and the customers who use it.
Special Constables are fully warranted police officers, wearing the same uniform, have the same powers and are bound by the same codes of ethics as regular police officers.
The Employer Supported Policing (ESP) Scheme is a partnership benefiting employers, their staff and the Police Service by allowing paid time off to release Special Constables, allowing them to volunteer in the communities where they live or work.
There are many benefits for employers. For instance, Corporate Social Responsibility is high on the agenda for many organisations, ESP is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your company’s reputation around community engagement.
Special Constables are also widely regarded by employers as being more committed, dependable, confident and responsible in the workforce. Police training also gives them many new skills such as first aid, crisis management, leadership and effective communication that they can bring back to their workplace.
Although there are similarities, ESP differs from the Defence Scheme in that it is not prescriptive. There is NO contractual obligation on a business. Essex Police will not dictate the amount of paid time off required but instead, understanding the unique impact such a scheme may have on individual organisations, the scheme is fully flexible and bespoke to your own organisation.
Special Constables are not PCSO’s, they are warranted Police Officers, they carry a warrant card and have the same policing powers to use whether they are serving their communities or working off duty at your company.
If you are interested in more information around this scheme, please contact us at business.crime.unit@essex.police.uk or through our Twitter account at @EsBusinessCrime
Criminal Behaviour Orders
PC Alex Plakhtienko of the Business Crime Unit worked to secure the 9th Criminal Behaviour Order for the team. The recipient had committed so many offences that she received an order standing for 5 years, banning her from entering any Co-Op or Iceland store in England and Wales. This, together with the other orders obtained ensure that prolific offenders against businesses are restricted and gives us powers of arrest where they wouldn’t normally be. This offender will no longer be able to commit crime at these locations.
January will be a busy time for the Business Crime Unit!
Next month will see the launch of our ‘Closed for Crime’ campaign, with the objective of reducing abuse and violence towards staff, whether that is in the retail sector or any area where employees interact with the public, or in any area within business, we want to ensure employees know they can report incidents to police and they will be investigated.
Going hand in hand with this will be the launch of our Business Security Guide, giving detailed advice on securing your business against crime.
COVID permitting, we are hoping to visit as many businesses in Essex as we can in order to launch the campaign and give out booklet and make new connections.
May we take this opportunity to wish you and your businesses a very happy Christmas and new year. We look forward to working with you throughout 2021.
Employer Supported Policing
Imagine if one of your employees was a Police Officer with the same policing powers as a regular officer!
Essex police are offering to train your staff in return for their time, however much that might be, helping to protect the wider community. THERE IS NO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT.
The Business Crime Unit are looking at ways we can work together with the Employer Supported Policing team to reduce crime against business.
Many employers will have heard about or taken part in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, allowing their staff who are military reservists paid time off to fulfil those duties. So why not do the same for police reserves. With more benefits for your business and the customers who use it.
Special Constables are fully warranted police officers, wearing the same uniform, have the same powers and are bound by the same codes of ethics as regular police officers.
The Employer Supported Policing (ESP) Scheme is a partnership benefiting employers, their staff and the Police Service by allowing paid time off to release Special Constables, allowing them to volunteer in the communities where they live or work.
There are many benefits for employers. For instance, Corporate Social Responsibility is high on the agenda for many organisations, ESP is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your company’s reputation around community engagement.
Special Constables are also widely regarded by employers as being more committed, dependable, confident and responsible in the workforce. Police training also gives them many new skills such as first aid, crisis management, leadership and effective communication that they can bring back to their workplace.
Although there are similarities, ESP differs from the Defence Scheme in that it is not prescriptive. There is NO contractual obligation on a business. Essex Police will not dictate the amount of paid time off required but instead, understanding the unique impact such a scheme may have on individual organisations, the scheme is fully flexible and bespoke to your own organisation.
Special Constables are not PCSO’s, they are warranted Police Officers, they carry a warrant card and have the same policing powers to use whether they are serving their communities or working off duty at your company.
If you are interested in more information around this scheme, please contact us at business.crime.unit@essex.police.uk or through our Twitter account at @EsBusinessCrime
Criminal Behaviour Orders
PC Alex Plakhtienko of the Business Crime Unit worked to secure the 9th Criminal Behaviour Order for the team. The recipient had committed so many offences that she received an order standing for 5 years, banning her from entering any Co-Op or Iceland store in England and Wales. This, together with the other orders obtained ensure that prolific offenders against businesses are restricted and gives us powers of arrest where they wouldn’t normally be. This offender will no longer be able to commit crime at these locations.
January will be a busy time for the Business Crime Unit!
Next month will see the launch of our ‘Closed for Crime’ campaign, with the objective of reducing abuse and violence towards staff, whether that is in the retail sector or any area where employees interact with the public, or in any area within business, we want to ensure employees know they can report incidents to police and they will be investigated.
Going hand in hand with this will be the launch of our Business Security Guide, giving detailed advice on securing your business against crime.
COVID permitting, we are hoping to visit as many businesses in Essex as we can in order to launch the campaign and give out booklet and make new connections.
May we take this opportunity to wish you and your businesses a very happy Christmas and new year. We look forward to working with you throughout 2021.