National recognition for local business crime initiative

7 Mar 2007

St Albans Business Against Crime (SABAC) received two awards at the national Action Against Business Crime conference in Liverpool last week in recognition of its contribution to community safety in St Albans District.

There are more than 190 Business Crime Reduction Partnerships operating in the UK and the Partnership Excellence Awards recognise the individual groups which have been most successful in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in retail areas.

Listed as finalists in the Promoting Community Safety and Partnership Innovation categories, SABAC received a Highly Commended award and was the runner up in the Promoting Community Safety category. SABAC also received a commendation for its entry in the Partnership Innovation category in relation to a Police operation to combat shoplifting in the busy run up to Christmas which contributed towards securing 21 arrests.

In the short time since it was established in October 2006, SABAC has already made a significant impact in reducing crime in the retail and business sectors of the City. Members, representing retail outlets, churches, car parks, St Albans Cathedral and the City railway station, have fully embraced the initiative and play a major role in keeping crime down.

Linda Treasure, Business Crime Manager for SABAC said "Without the co-operation and huge contribution from our members, we would not have made this important progress. We hope in the coming months to steadily increase the numbers of businesses involved with the scheme, which should give us all the opportunity to further decrease the incidents of crime in our City."

Steve Welch, Chair of the St Albans Community Safety Partnership, said "I am delighted at the progress SABAC has made in such a short space of time and the real difference it is already making to the retail community of St Albans".

Davina Mansell, Press Officer
Email: d.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk www.stalbans.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:-
SABAC is an initiative set up by the St Albans Community Safety Partnership, Herts Police and St Albans District Council, working in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.