SABAC (St Albans Business Against Crime)

In 2006 the Community Safety Partnership secured £22,000 of external funding, to set up an initiative aimed at reducing crimes such as shoplifting and assaults on staff in the city centre.

SABAC was launched in October 2006, following receipt of the Safer Business Award from Action Against Business Crime. AABC is a nationally recognised organisation supporting all business crime partnerships in the UK and is supported by the Home Office. The Safer Business Award recognises that SABAC has met the stringent criteria around operating protocols and data protection.

Business Crime Manager Linda Treasure with Mayor receiving award

More than 80 retailers and businesses have already signed up to the scheme. They are given access to information about prolific offenders, including persistent shoplifters, individuals subject to ASBOs and known pickpockets, together with up to date photographs to enable quick identification. Hand held radios provide members with a direct link to the CCTV control room giving security for staff and customers and enabling shops and businesses to call for immediate attention if a problem arises. The radios also enable members to warn neighbouring shops or premises of offenders in the area.

An exclusion notice scheme operates throughout the city centre and particular offenders are banned from ALL member premises regardless of the "scene" of their crime or incident of disorder. These notices are served by Police officers. To date SABAC has served 10 exclusion notices. Breach of an exclusion notice is an arrestable offence

It is not just the business and retail sector which benefit from SABAC. Members also include St Peter's Church, St Albans Cathedral and the City Station which have previously experienced crime and anti-social behaviour.

SABAC received two awards at the national AABC conference in Liverpool in February in recognition of its contribution to community safety in St Albans. SABAC received a Highly Commended award and was the runner up in the Promoting Community Safety Category and 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.

Linda Treasure and Chris Roach with awards

SABAC expanded to Harpenden Town Centre on 24th April and plans to roll out to London Colney and the villages over the coming year.

SABAC is an independent non profit making organisation run by businesses for businesses in St Albans. SABAC works in partnership with the Police, the Community Safety and Anti-social Behaviour Team, the Chamber of Commerce, St Albans Retail Group, St Albans Enterprise Agency, the Magistrates Court, the Crown Prosecution Service and drug and alcohol services.