Forum for local businesses to discuss crime prevention

If you run a business you are invited to attend the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Business Crime Forum on Tuesday October 29 at Police Headquarters in Martlesham.

This is your chance to hear about the impact of business crime and gain an understanding of how the police record and respond to crime.

It’s a chance to put your questions to the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore and the Chief Constable and to learn how to protect your business against crime.

A buffet celebrating Suffolk local produce will be served from 5pm and the forum, hosted by Terry Baxter, starts at 6pm.

This event is free to attend but you must book your place:

www.suffolkchamber.co.uk/events/partner_events/free_annual_police_crime_forum_tuesday_29_october_2013

Tim Passmore said, “ I truly believe that a strong economy boosts employment and helps to cut crime which in turn encourages investment. We all have a part to play to help create a thriving community and make Suffolk a safer place in which to live, work, travel and invest.

“Some people have questioned the inclusion of the word ‘invest’ and its link with crime and policing, but I was very specific in my four-year plan to highlight investment in the local economy as a key driver to a safer county. A vibrant economy generates growth and jobs which in turn can help cut crime; that is why I chose the Suffolk economy as my ‘Passmore Priority’ in the summer.

“Crimes against businesses are often perceived as ‘victimless’ crimes; they are not. Far from being victimless, the effects of business crime are widely felt, on employers, employees, customers and the wider community. It affects profitability, deter investment and cause distress for staff, all of which can reduce quality of life and damage the local economy.

“Supporting the local economy is key to my ambition as PCC to make Suffolk a safer place. It’s well documented that if the economy suffers, you get more crime and where there is a problem with crime, it is more difficult to attract inward investment and new businesses; it’s a vicious circle and one that I certainly don’t want Suffolk to become a part of.

“I believe that we all have a responsibility to do as much as we can to support the Suffolk and UK economy, and I include the Constabulary in this. Many of you will have heard me talking about my vision of ‘Suffolk plc’ and my unwavering commitment to this wonderful county; I am a firm believer in buying local and I will be looking at where we source goods for the Constabulary to make sure we are supporting the Suffolk economy in every way we can.

“I will also be investigating ways that we can buy British where possible.”