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Darryl Preston
for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Business crime

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Monday, 3 May, 2021
“Violent crime against shop workers can happen at any time,” says Darryl Preston.  “I want to provide better support for victims of violence and abuse in local shops."

Crimes committed against businesses are not victimless – they have a devastating impact on all our communities.

And because it's a crime, Darryl Preston's intention to #GetCrimeCut in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough includes a specific five point plan to tackle business crime.




Darryl writes:

Business crime

I recently spoke with a shop owner in Cambridge who had started a new small business serving the local community. He had ploughed his own savings into the shop and any profits were to pay the bills.

A couple of days after opening he was the victim of burglary, stock taken, £8,000 of damage and an on-going loss of earnings while the shop was closed for repair.

A friend of mine owns a chain of convenience stores, employing hundreds of people, boosting local economies and serving local communities.

Not a day goes by without a crime being committed; be it shoplifting, ram raids or the very worst crime – assaults on members of staff.

Crimes committed against the convenience store sector cost £142m over the last year alone, equating to over £3,000 per store. In addition almost 89% of shop workers suffered some form of abuse.

Cybercrime too

And there is a new and significant threat to businesses of all types – cybercrime.

Be it cyber enabled (any crime that can be committed over the internet such as fraud) or cyber dependent (a crime that relies solely on computers such as ransom ware).

According to ITPro, cybercrime is estimated to have cost UK businesses a staggering £87 billion since 2015 – no wonder it can have a devastating impact on any business, including employees and local communities.

Business crime is not victimless

Perhaps some people see business crime as less serious than other crimes. I do not.

Businesses are made up of people, working hard to feed their families and to pay the bills, contributing to the economy paying for the health service, education and all the other vital public services we need.

If elected, I will…

If elected on 6th May, I will support our local businesses in the fight against crime by:

1.  Making resources available to the Chief Constable to recruit many more police officers.

2.  Create business crime forums in consultation with organisations representing businesses such as (but not limited to) the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and the Association of Convenience Stores – with the objective of cutting crime.

3.  Hold the Chief Constable to account for the investigation of crime against businesses.

4.  Work with the Home Office to ensure an effective whole system response to cybercrime.

5.  Invest in cyber and online prevention officers.



Sources

Association of Convenience Stores' crime report 2021.

ITPro report on the cost of cybercrime.

Darryl Preston is the Conservative candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner election in May 2021.  There's more about Darryl on the About Darryl Preston page.


— #GetCrimeCut —


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Darryl Preston with some of his key team members (Chris Philips, Debbie Clark (agent) and Lina Pacheco) after winning the 2021 PCC election for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Darryl Preston elected PCC for Cambs and Peterborough

Saturday, 8 May, 2021

Darryl Preston has been elected as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's next Police and Crime Commissioner.

His tag #GetCrimeCut was reflected in is acceptance speech when he said said his priorities were "cutting crime, protecting the public and supporting the victims of crime".

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  • Local News

“Violent crime against shop workers can happen at any time,” says Darryl Preston. “I want to provide better support for victims of violence and abuse in local shops.

"I will also be holding the Chief Constable to account for the investigation of crime against businesses."

Photo source.

Darryl Preston for Cambridgeshire

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ConservativesPromoted by Mrs D N Clark on behalf of Darryl Preston, both of Walsingham Chambers, Butchers Row, Ely, CB7 4NA
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