Focusing on business crime

Battling business crime

Business crime in the capital is a priority for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). To this end, the MPS has a number of initiatives:

• Shop Watch: gives retail employees the chance to train as special constables and has seen very positive results in reduced theft from the major retailers on board.
• Business and pub watch: part of core business working with local traders. Involves intelligence sharing between businesses and schemes focused for example on illegal street traders, improved lighting, illegal minicab operations and securing the public realm.
• Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit: forges links with the construction industry and has so far recovered in excess of £1 million. The construction, utilities and insurance sectors are working with the police to better protect equipment and reduce plant theft.
• Safer Neighbourhood Teams based in stores: to provide reassurance and act as a visible, accessible and familiar presence for people and businesses in the community, 656 Safer Neighbourhood Teams operate in each of London's wards.
• Reporting: the police non-emergency phone line - 101 - makes reporting offences of all kinds far easier, while also freeing up 999 numbers for emergencies.

The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime will continue to survey London businesses to find out their priorities.

Getting the police and businesses closer together

We are working on building closer links between the police and businesses, for example through town centre teams at the local level and more coordinated Londonwide communication. These new initiatives build on established links at borough.

Transport focused policing

Dedicated policing teams are located at busy transport interchanges and stations, so that passengers, rail staff, shopkeepers and everyone who works on and around London's stations will have dedicated recognisable police officers and Police Community Support Officers on hand.

Spotlight on fraud

Fraud is a growing crime in the UK. The MPS is focusing on not just responding to but preventing fraud, with a number of initiatives including targeting prolific offenders, building partnerships and improving people's understanding of how to spot and stop fraud.

The Mayor is lobbying central government to make tackling fraud a priority and provide suffcient resources.