Safer Business Action Week: Standing Together Against Retail Crime

This Monday, November 10, marks the start of Safer Business Action Week (SaBA) — a coordinated national initiative led by the National Business Crime Centre to spotlight crime prevention, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships across communities.

Northamptonshire Police, in collaboration with the Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership, local retailers, and other key stakeholders, is proud to support this important week. Together, we are working to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour that affects businesses and the wider public.

Since the formation of our dedicated Retail Crime Team in 2023, conviction rates have soared, with the team continuing to secure lengthy prison sentences against repeat offenders. This reflects our commitment to protecting retail workers and ensuring safer business environments across the county.

Throughout SaBA Week, we will be holding Safer Business Action Days, visiting local businesses to better understand the challenges they face, and delivering a focused operation that includes:

• Joint patrols with partners
• Targeted interventions against prolific offenders
• High-visibility policing and proactive arrests
• Crime prevention activity including commercial burglary letter drops and the installation of mobile CCTV pods
• Community engagement through surgeries and a visit from the Beat Bus in Northampton Town Centre

Chief Inspector James Willis, who leads on retail crime for the Force, said:

“We are proud to take part in this year’s Safer Business Action Week, shining a light on the Force-wide effort to tackle retail crime — not just this week, but every day.

Retail crime is far from a victimless offence. Every theft leaves a mark on workers and undermines the sense of safety in our communities. We are dedicated to supporting our retail sector and want the public to know we take these crimes seriously.

Our officers are committed to investigating all shoplifting offences and pursuing all reasonable lines of enquiry to secure arrests and charges.”

Superintendent Lisa Maslen, lead at the National Business Crime Centre, added:

“Safer Business Action Week is a valuable opportunity to focus attention on the challenges businesses face every day, while celebrating the ongoing partnership work taking place across the country.

The results we’ve seen from these collaborative efforts show the real impact of bringing together police, local authorities and the business community to reduce harm and create safer places to work and shop.”

Ch Insp Willis concluded:

“Throughout the week, we’re working closely with retailers and partners to deter and disrupt theft and target persistent offenders. We hope this week highlights the incredible work our Force does, and we continue to encourage businesses to report every incident and explore the benefits of joining the Northamptonshire Business Crime Partnership.”