Police support week of action to take a stand against retail crime

Devon & Cornwall Police are taking part in a national week of action in a bid to tackle business crime and continue to strengthen relationships with retail outlets, employees and security staff.

Safer Business Action Week is co-ordinated by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) and began on Monday 10 November 2025. The aim of the week is to strengthen relationships between local policing teams and businesses and to together tackle retail crime, anti-social behaviour and other offences affecting businesses in communities.  

Some of the activity taking place during the week of action includes high visibility patrols incorporating hotspots, active engagement with shop workers and the public offering crime prevention advice, proactive arrest enquiries and targeted operations.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “We know how much business crime can affect those work within businesses in our communities. By taking a collaborative and proactive approach, we can deploy resources to specific locations on patrol and directly target offenders. Tackling this issue remains a priority for the Force.”

This week also sees the launch of Devon, Cornwall & IOS Business Crime Reduction Partnership.

This partnership will allow businesses to collectively exclude prolific offenders, share information & intelligence between one another and take collective action against business crime in their community.

The aim is to reduce the fear of crime, work together to alert each other of risks and prevent crime and provide businesses/members with training, guidance and support.

Strategic Business Crime Lead T/Chief Superintendent Antony Hart, said: “We will use this week of action to further strengthen our relationships with local businesses and take action against those causing harm in our town and city centres.

“Our officers will raise awareness of business crime, encourage reporting, gather intelligence, share prevention advice to help protect businesses from being a target of crime, and highlight the support available to businesses who have been impacted by crime.

“The proactive engagement planned this week isn’t a one-off; the work to protect businesses continues throughout the year. The national week of action is an opportunity for us to continue to raise awareness of the work police do, along with our local partners, to keep communities safe.”

Businesses can be affected by a wide variety of crimes from theft, burglary and cyber crime to abusive or violent behaviour directed at staff. The Safer Business Action event is all about partnership working, with the police, businesses, private security organisations, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and Business Improvement Districts working together to reduce crime.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Retail crime, ASB and violence is being tackled by my office through the funding of a business crime reduction partnership linked directly to the police called UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC).  

“Following a successful pilot in Torquay with fantastic results, we are now funding it for 12 months in other areas including Saltash, Liskeard, Barnstaple and Teignmouth and will continue with its rollout across the peninsula over the next two years. 

“The launch of Devon, Cornwall & IOS BCRP will see that work continue and grow by combining collective local efforts to combat retail crime into one joined-up network. This will ensure intelligence and activities are widely shared in a timely manner. The benefits will include being able to identify and track prolific offenders who offend across multiple areas.   

“My office is offering businesses a free 12-month subscription to the new BCRP when they become a member of UKPAC. This allows businesses to experience the benefits of joined-up intelligence and partnership working with no cost and no obligation to continue after the trial period.” 

For further help and advice on business safety please visit Business crime prevention | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk) Practical help and support to victims of crime is available from the Devon and Cornwall Victim Care Unit and Victim Support. For more information visit https://victimcare-dc.org/.

Businesses can also sign up to Community Messaging, a two-way messaging system to receive emails relevant to your local area by visiting the Community Messaging page.