Clacksfirst launches Scotland’s first interactive crime prevention CD for business

The Clacksfirst Business Improvement District launched Scotland’s only interactive crime prevention CD for businesses this morning in Alloa.

Jamie MacSween, Chair of the Clacksfirst BID, Mandy Haeburn-Little, Executive Director of the Scottish Business Crime Centre, Chief Inspector Bob Hutchison, Central Scotland Police and Councillor George Matchett from Clackmannanshire Council all spoke at the event.

Clacksfirst played an instrumental role in the development of the CD, working in a unique partnership with Central Scotland Police, Clackmannanshire Council, Clackmannanshire Criminal Justice Services, Fife and Forth Valley Community Justice and the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC).

The CD, which is the first of its kind, links users directly to the internet and provides crime prevention advice in a very easy to use format. Aimed at helping businesses to tackle crime, the CD:

• Offers local businesses crime prevention advice thereby freeing up police time to deal with other issues in the area
• Allows recipients of the CD to extend their knowledge of crime prevention as well as linking them directly to important documents from organisations such as the Information Commissioner's Office and Health and Safety Executive
• Demonstrates Clacksfirst and the other partner's commitment to making industrial estates in Clackmannanshire safer and stronger
• Acts as an incentive for inward investment

Speaking just after the launch event, Keith Brown, Cabinet Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and local MSP said:

"This is an innovative initiative which has demonstrated Clacksfirst's commitment to making business parks in Clackmannanshire safer and stronger and it is also an example of how working with other partners in the community can produce results which will not only be of benefit to businesses in Clackmannanshire but across the whole of Scotland.

"I would like to congratulate Clacksfirst and its partners and I look forward to seeing the CD rolled out nationally over the coming months."

Mandy Haeburn-Little, Executive Director, Scottish Business Crime Centre, added:

"I applaud the Clacksfirst BID for its commitment to making industrial estates in Clackmannanshire safer and stronger and as an organisation they should feel particularly proud of what they have achieved.  By pioneering and introducing many unique and creative initiatives, and raising awareness of the risks being faced by business, they have demonstrated a willingness to lead the way in preventing crime on their industrial estates.  We send them our warmest congratulations."

Today's launch event celebrated the many achievements of Clacksfirst in tackling crime across its ten business parks in Clackmannanshire since the BID was established in 2008.

Clacksfirst is committed to reducing crime and the fear of crime for its members and their employees. Consequently, for the past 18 months it has been working closely with its BID members and partners and has implemented a number of projects to reduce and prevent crime across its business parks.

These have included:

• Security audits supported by the Central Scotland Police and the Scottish Business Crime Centre, Business    Watch Scheme and Business Park CCTV trial
• Crime prevention training and workshops
• Crime prevention through environmental design - to enhance business premises security to "Secured By Design" standards
• Environmental improvements

The success of these BID projects has resulted in enhanced business security across all ten business parks, has promoted a cleaner and safer environment for employees, customers and visitors, has delivered an improved business park appearance thanks to regular maintenance, has made environmental improvements and, importantly has encouraged inward investment.

Bob Hutchison, Chief Inspector, Central Scotland Police, said:

"Since the inception of the Clackfirst BID project, security of the business parks has always been seen as a priority, BID members throughout Clackmannanshire all appreciate that for them to prosper, their business and staff must be protected from criminality. From the very first report compiled by Central Scotland Police, a range of interventions were recommended.  These included environmental improvements, security alerts and the security grant to assist funding for CCTV and other crime prevention measures .The interactive disc is a culmination of this joint work between Central Scotland Police, Clacksfirst and the Scottish Business Crime Centre. We want to ensure that all Clacksfirst businesses have access to the most up-to-date and accurate crime prevention advice, which will without doubt assist in deterring criminal activity."

Jamie MacSween, Chair of Clacksfirst concluded:

"Clacksfirst has always considered its members' security a priority. We have worked tirelessly, in partnership with the Scottish Business Crime Centre and Central Scotland Police, to deliver on initiatives that will enhance our business parks and members' security. This interactive CD, the first of its kind in Scotland, is another landmark on our journey to drive business crime out of Clackmannanshire"

During the months ahead the interactive CD will be rolled out nationally by the Scottish Business Crime Centre to other business parks and business sectors where crime prevention and security advice is needed.

For further information on the Clacksfirst BID please visit www.clacksfirst.co.uk

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