NBCC launches ‘one-stop shop’ to help police tackle business crime

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) said the new resources will help police and the business community learn, share data and support each other to prevent and tackle “an ever growing problem”.

The NBCC said its website, unveiled on Thursday (July 7), was created as a “one-stop shop” for businesses seeking to engage with law enforcement, help coordinate across agencies and bring together guidance, advice and best practice from third parties to provide one easy to access place for businesses to come to for help and support.

The series of videos, also launched on Thursday, were commissioned by the NBCC and are designed as a training aid for those working in the retail sector to empower employees in the areas of personal safety and de-escalation – such as refusing service, deterring and interacting with thieves and handling disruptive behaviour.

Superintendent Patrick Holdaway, lead for the NBCC, said: “The new look NBCC is website is a key tool in helping businesses across the UK find and access the support they need to tackle the ever growing problem of business crime.

“There is so much support out there for businesses that it can be confusing to know where to turn for what. The NBCC website brings it all together in one place.

“The team are made up of police officers and security experts and they have used their expertise to create a series of crime prevention guides which can be downloaded directly from the website. We will keep adding to these creating a library of easy to use guidance for businesses. They can also be used as a resource by police crime prevention teams who we work closely with.”

The NBCC, which is hosted by City of London Police, assists police forces to work in partnership with the business community to tackle crimes against businesses. Its focus is on preventing violence and tackling organised crime while developing and sharing good practice between forces and private sector industries.

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) business crime lead, Assistant Commissioner Paul Betts from City of London Police, said: “The cost and impact of crimes against businesses cannot be underestimated.

“We know that businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are victims and that many incidents still go unreported.

“The NBCC is here to help strengthen the partnership between policing and the business community so we work together to tackle and prevent crime.

“The new website is essential in building that engagement and providing businesses with the resources and support they need in one place.”

The NBCC was launched in October 2017 and initially hosted by the Metropolitan Police Service with support from the Home Office. In 2021, ownership of the NBCC moved across to the City of London Police to support the NPCC business crime lead.