Business Action Group
It is becoming ever clearer to me just how important a part of my job communication is.
It's not the only aspect, of course. In fact, when I get to look back over each week, or month, it is very reassuring to see just how much ‘real work' has been done. Setting up Business Watches, directing traffic, apprehending criminals (sometimes red-handed, even) and taking alcohol away from youths on the streets are in fact all a part of regular life now for me as the business police community support officer.
But communication, like I said, is becoming a bigger part of what I do because, let's face it, if you don't people what you are involved in, how are they going to know? That's why business visits - previously shoe-horned in between other duties - are now moving up the priority list.
There's no mystery about it. Crime victims will always get a visit from the police, of course. But I'm also now targeting many businesses to visit before any crime is committed - to get to know the area's businesses and their leaders, understand their needs, and for them to be reassured by the fact that, since my appointment and the setting up of the Business Action Group, their specific priorities are being taken on. I'm pleased to say that's going down very well, and I've only been turned away once.
Another important next step between me and the ‘BAG' is to generate a number of ‘Priority Profiles'. That's something that happens across the Neighbourhood Action Groups and involves setting up projects to tackle live issues in each area. That will mean an increasingly proactive element to my work, which we will develop in the coming months - and I'll tell you about as I work through them
But back on the subject of communication, I'm delighted to see that the newburybusinesstoday.co.uk site is fully launched, and that it includes my own page.
We will continue to develop that to include not only a repeat of these articles, but also useful advice, links, current intelligence and - very importantly - a feedback channel to me so that, even if I haven't visited your business yet, you can easily tell me what you know about crime in your area - that's something I can respond to and work with you to make our business community a still better place.
The local Business Action Group is on the recruitment trail and aims to increase its membership from the business community. So if you are interested in making a difference to business security issues, or want to contact me about any security topics, I would be pleased to hear from you. Please write to:
Philip.Lewis@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
It's not the only aspect, of course. In fact, when I get to look back over each week, or month, it is very reassuring to see just how much ‘real work' has been done. Setting up Business Watches, directing traffic, apprehending criminals (sometimes red-handed, even) and taking alcohol away from youths on the streets are in fact all a part of regular life now for me as the business police community support officer.
But communication, like I said, is becoming a bigger part of what I do because, let's face it, if you don't people what you are involved in, how are they going to know? That's why business visits - previously shoe-horned in between other duties - are now moving up the priority list.
There's no mystery about it. Crime victims will always get a visit from the police, of course. But I'm also now targeting many businesses to visit before any crime is committed - to get to know the area's businesses and their leaders, understand their needs, and for them to be reassured by the fact that, since my appointment and the setting up of the Business Action Group, their specific priorities are being taken on. I'm pleased to say that's going down very well, and I've only been turned away once.
Another important next step between me and the ‘BAG' is to generate a number of ‘Priority Profiles'. That's something that happens across the Neighbourhood Action Groups and involves setting up projects to tackle live issues in each area. That will mean an increasingly proactive element to my work, which we will develop in the coming months - and I'll tell you about as I work through them
But back on the subject of communication, I'm delighted to see that the newburybusinesstoday.co.uk site is fully launched, and that it includes my own page.
We will continue to develop that to include not only a repeat of these articles, but also useful advice, links, current intelligence and - very importantly - a feedback channel to me so that, even if I haven't visited your business yet, you can easily tell me what you know about crime in your area - that's something I can respond to and work with you to make our business community a still better place.
The local Business Action Group is on the recruitment trail and aims to increase its membership from the business community. So if you are interested in making a difference to business security issues, or want to contact me about any security topics, I would be pleased to hear from you. Please write to:
Philip.Lewis@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
More From: Business Action Group News Next Story: Top 10 tips for business security Previous Story: What exactly is ‘business crime’?
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