During Safer Business Action Week, officers across Northern Ireland made arrests, carried out searches, conducted mobile patrols and met members of the business community.

The week, saw dedicated patrols of officers engaging with members of the business and retail community including advice around Safeshop. Safeshop provides business owners with specialised skills to keep themselves and their premises safe.
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The Police Service of Northern Ireland conducted a proactive approach to tackling business crime across Northern Ireland.

In Belfast, there were 20 dedicated patrols and seven arrests were made, while in Mid Ulster there were four arrests.

Officers in Lisburn and Castlereagh carried out foot and mobile patrols across the district, while Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Magherafelt, Cookstown, Torrent and Dungannon worked hard in the lead up to and during the week, scheduling time aside to attend shopping areas and engage with businesses and workers in different areas.

Crime Prevention Officers also worked hard in collaboration with NPTs and PCSPs to facilitate, organise and attend a variety of these events and engagements across the district.

Speaking following the week of action,  which ran from Monday 10th November until Sunday 16th November, Police Service of Northern Ireland Business Crime Lead Superintendent Allister Hagan said: “It is extremely encouraging to see the business community across Northern Ireland engage with police to deliver positive results during Safer Business Action Week.

“Officers provided a visible policing presence, including pop-up clinics to educate and inform retailers and business owners across Northern Ireland around related criminal activity. We worked closely in partnership with our key stakeholders to identify offenders and tackle issues like anti-social behaviour and theft. We are extremely grateful for the unwavering support we received from the business community across Northern Ireland.

“Safer Business Action Week,  has come to a close, but that does not mean that our policing activity targeting business related crime comes to an end. We will continue to hold crime prevention initiatives and activities, as well as apprehend offenders and reduce the fear of crime across our towns and cities.

“We are aware there is underreporting of business related crime, so we would encourage retailers and business owners to contact police if they feel their staff are victims of criminal activity. If a member of staff has been either physically or verbally assaulted, please get in touch with police so these offences can be robustly investigated.

“We will be utilising the information obtained during Safer Business Action Week, to best utilise our resources as we approach the busy festive period for retailers. We want to make our towns and cities a place to live, work, socialise and do business. We will continue to robustly tackle business crime and keep both retailers and consume.”

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