NCJ Number
182382
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
British retailers, as a community, are already working with the police and local authorities in many locations to prevent and reduce crime; this booklet draws on the experience from these endeavors to provide guidelines for those communities that wish to establish and enhance such liaisons for crime prevention and reduction.
Abstract
The British Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 provides the retail industry with opportunities to play a part in developing local strategies and to work with key agencies to reduce crime in cities, towns, and shopping centers. Retailers view this legislation as the key catalyst in building on existing partnerships and developing new strategies for the reduction of town center crime and disorderly and nuisance behaviors. The comprehensive Home Office guidance for the Crime and Disorder Act sets out a clear process for identifying local crime problems and priorities. These include conducting a local audit of crime and disorder problems; devising an audit-based strategy that assesses performance effectiveness; and the composing of a document that includes a listing of cooperating persons and organizations, the crime and disorder review and analysis report, and the selected strategy, along with its objectives and targets. The strategy is intended to cover a 3-year period, followed by a review and update. Retailers can participate in local crime-prevention efforts by developing a company policy on local involvement in retail-crime partnerships, ensuring that the local retail forum develops a common response to crime, encouraging an early and coordinated approach in liaison with police and local authorities, and providing data that will assist in the consultation process and help in developing objectives and strategies. Program examples are provided, along with suggestions for managing data and constitutional issues, as well as measuring success. 14 references and a list of contacts for established programs