Business Watch:
As an extension of Neighbourhood Watch London, Business
Watch aims to help businesses improve security and reduce crime by
working with them to identify the problems and provide solutions.
One of the most influential ways of reducing crime and
accompanying financial loss is by all working together in our local
areas.
Business Watch offers businesses these opportunities:
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to participate
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to share information by creating new ways of
communication that may not have existed previously
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to increase awareness of the issues
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to keep everyone up to date with what is happening in
the community.
Aims and Objectives:
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to encourage mutual assistance between members
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to increase crime prevention awareness
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to train employees to recognize and report suspicious
activities and people the police department
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to train employees in preventing crime, handling
emergencies and being good witnesses
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to provide the opportunity to share information
between members, residences, Neighbourhood Watch
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to establish a closer relationship between
businesses, the police and neighbours
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to provide an environment that is unappealing to
criminals
Business Watch Groups:
Business Watch is a group of companies who work together
to reduce crime and vandalism in conjunction with Neighbourhood Watch
London.
Neighbourhood Watch London:
By
teaming up with Neighbourhood Watch, businesses can join and promote the
O. A. R. S initiative: Observe; Acknowledge; Report and Share,
which has been formalized in to a new initiative.
In
association with the London Police Service, Business Watch will be
assisted by the already-established volunteer citizens in crime
prevention. Business Watch will be supported by Neighbourhood Watch
London aiding it with community awareness of crime and crime
prevention techniques as well as guidelines for organization.
Neighbourhood Watch London
will further the program’s effectiveness through cooperation with
individuals, groups and agencies involved with crime prevention and safe
communities.
What do you need to do?
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Post a Business Watch sign – deterring potential thieves and trouble
makers,
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Provide an email address and contact information to the
Neighbourhood Watch London Office – in order to notify you of any
criminal activity within your area.
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Have a Watch Coordinator and/or work with an already-established
Neighbourhood Watch Area Coordinator, serving as a liaison with the
Neighbourhood Watch office.
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Have your employees attend a Business Watch meeting so that they
have firsthand knowledge of what their roles will be.
Removing the Criminal Element
There are a few questions you should be asking:
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Do you and your staff know your business address and phone number?
Is it posted close to a telephone in case of an emergency?
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How secure is your business?
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Do you have a system in place to communicate information to your
co-workers and/or staff to the surrounding businesses?
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Do you have a monitored alarm system?
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Do you and your staff know what to do in case of emergency and/or
robbery?
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Are you and your staff aware of the Shopkeepers Right to Refuse?
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What is the protocol
if you discover a break and enter? (Call the
Police at once. Do NOT disturb the evidence!)
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Have you evaluated your surrounding landscaping? What about
preventing crime through environmental design?
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design:
C P T E D
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Natural Surveillance:
A design concept directed primarily at keeping intruders easily
observable is important.
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Territorial Reinforcement:
Physical design can create or extend a sphere of influence. Users
then develop a sense of territorial control which discourages
potential offenders who perceive this control.
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Natural Access Control:
A design concept directed primarily at decreasing crime opportunity
denies access to crime targets and creates in offenders a perception
of risk.
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Target Hardening:
Features that prohibit entry or access such as window locks, dead
bolts for doors and interior door hinges are all deterrents to
crime.
Neighbourhood Watch London has proven success. The sharing of crime
prevention techniques within the Watch Areas coupled with the constant
vigilance of our 7,000 volunteers has reduced crime within the Watch
participant areas.
More than 84% of break-in enters and 92%
of vehicle thefts in the City of London
occur in areas where residents
do NOT participate in the Program.
