Police in Thirsk mean business
Police in Thirsk are working with businesses to help protect them against criminals.
Officers are visiting every business in the Dalton area to offer support and advice as well as proactively targeting known criminals.
There is also a new web based questionnaire - Protect your commercial premises - which assists business owners to assess their current security. It can be viewed at http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/protectyourcommercialpremises.
The questionnaire, which takes around 30 minutes to complete, helps business owners to evaluate their existing security measures. Each time the "No" option is selected, advice is provided on the improvements that can be made to deter criminals.
PC Helen Pointon, of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Response and Reassurance Team, said: "All businesses in this area will soon be contacted by a member of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Response and Reassurance Team to discuss their security arrangements and how the police can help.
"By making ourselves more accessible to businesses, we can ensure that they have all the assistance they need to secure their premises and reduce the risks of suffering the distress and inconvenience of becoming victims of crime."
"Officers are also proactively targeting criminals operating in this area and taking a positive approach towards enforcement.
"I urge local business people to sign up to become members of Business Watch. These schemes have shown that they work to reduce crime in the areas they operate in.
"I am encouraging everyone to take the questionnaire and take onboard the advice it offers. Just by making simple alterations to your security measures you can make a big difference and deter thieves from targeting your premises.
Superintendent Amanda Oliver, the Hambleton and Richmondshire Safer Neighbourhood Commander, said: "I would like to reassure everyone in the area that the district has one of the lowest crime rates in the country as well as being one of the safest places to live and work. This initiative is aimed at reducing crime even further.
"We have already received positive feedback from the members of the Hambleton Business Forum who are keen to become involved in Business Watch."
9.37am - 15 July 2011
