Business crime reduction partnerships: examining a holistic approach

Stafford, Andrew B ORCID: 0000-0002-8059-8705 and Hobson, Jonathan ORCID: 0000-0001-8081-6699 (2018) Business crime reduction partnerships: examining a holistic approach. Safer Communities, 17 (4). pp. 238-248. doi:10.1108/SC-07-2018-0020

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Abstract

Purpose There has been a widespread move in England’s city centres to a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) model that welcomes businesses from all commercial sectors and that operate during day time and night time trading hours, and that seeks to tackle a broad range of crimes and associated behaviours. This article considers whether this new holistic approach offers benefits that narrower models do not. Design/methodology/approach This study draws upon data from a multi-year examination of the Gloucester City Safe BCRP, including quantitative analysis of 4523 offences recorded by the partnership and qualitative analysis of 149 interviews with its members. Findings In Gloucester there was a small minority of offenders who commit offences against more than one type of business, who offend during both the day time and night time trading hours and who commit more than one type of offence. There is value, therefore, in partnerships bringing together businesses from different commercial sectors and that operate in the day and night time economies to coordinate their efforts to tackle such activity. Practical implications Sharing information among partnership members via email and secure web-based platforms helps raise awareness concerning offenders and the offences that they commit which in turn can be used to prevent offences from occurring. Social implications This inclusive holistic BCRP model can lead to an increased sense of community cohesion for its members arising from the collective effort of multiple types of businesses. Originality/value The authors are not aware of other studies that have considered these issues.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/SC-07-2018-0020. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Community safety; Business crime reduction partnership; City centre; Gloucester City Safe; Night time economy; Shoplifting
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology. > HV7231 Criminal justice administration > HV7431 Prevention of crime, methods, etc. H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology. > HV7231 Criminal justice administration > HV7551 Police. Detectives. Constabulary. > HV8031 Police duty. Methods of protection.
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Andrew Stafford
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2018 08:21
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:24
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/6033

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