Business Watch Officer:
Mrs Jean White
Tel 0121 322 6062
Fax 0121 322 6161

Heartlands Business Watch is a crime prevention programme launched to tackle problems of crime in our business areas. The scheme starts from the basic premise that you and your neighbours in business can play a vital role in the fight to prevent the massive losses to the business community and society in general as a result of crime. Through awareness, observation and commitment to action you and your employees can become extra "eyes and ears" for the police, who are dependent on the public for information that could take criminals out of action. Business employees can be "watchmen" for their own and neighbours businesses - a proven deterrent to crime

SUPPORT CRIMESTOPPERS
I know that you will wish to be a good neighbour and report any suspicious incidents in your area by reporting quickly to the POLICE or by telephoning CRIMESTOPPERS on
0800 555 111.

We cannot stress too strongly, the prudence of having all valuable property, computers, etc. clearly marked with postcodes. If you would like advice, please contact:
k.doyle@west-midlands.police.uk  
or mikewheartlands@blueyonder.co.uk

Over 3000 HGVs are stolen each year and never recovered. The costs to businesses, in insurance claims and loss of business, is colossal. Details of a new initiative, which is being launched by West Midlands Police to tackle the threat to the livelihood of members of the Road Haulage Association, and other business crime reduction measures, will be outlined at a Crime in Business Conference and Exhibition, which will be held on November 4th this year.

Mike Farmer, the Regional Director of the Road Haulage Association who is speaking at the Conference said: "There are forty thousand truck related crimes per year in the UK, which are an increasing problem for the police to tackle, with current resources. The Road Haulage Association has been working with West Midlands Police for some time on a new initiative, which we hope will tackle this problem once and for all."

'Beating Crime in YOUR Business is YOUR Business' will put fighting business crime at the top of the agenda for businesses in the Midlands with a wide range of speakers and exhibitors, all experts in the field of overcoming business crime. Scott Palmer from the Association of Payment Clearing Services will outline methods of how to ensure that your credit card remains your property. Christopher Linfoot, IT Director at LDV will speak about the cost to businesses of spam and virus infiltration, and Nick Bason, Policy Advisor of the Association of British Insurers will discuss the effects of arson on businesses. Ways and means of keeping hold of your business car will be summarised by organisations expert in stolen vehicle tracking and recovery operations. Other subjects include Retail Crime, Domestic violence and the workplace and Graffiti.

The one day event, organised by the Pride in Business Partnership - Heartlands Business Forum, West Midlands Police, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry/ Business Link and the Birmingham Community safety Partnership, will be held at the Aston Villa Conference Centre on Thursday 4th November from 12 noon to 7pm. There will be some fifty exhibitors able to provide your business with expert advice on a wide range of crime prevention topics and over one thousand delegates are expected to visit the event, which is free to attend. The event will be opened by West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable, Nick Tofiluk.

Please ensure that the event is firmly in your diaries for the autumn:

Beating Crime in YOUR business is YOUR business
Exhibition and Crime Conference
Thursday 4th November 2004

The Pride in Business partners are able to subsidise the cost of exhibiting which will cost £450 + vat to include a 3m x 2m professionally constructed booth with lighting, electricity power points and furniture. We also propose to create a "virtual" floor plan of the exhibition on www.heartlands.co.uk with direct links to exhibitors' own web sites. Visit the interactive exhibition planner which is now live on www.heartlands.co.uk . We will also be publishing a handbook which will include a pen picture of all exhibitors and other contributors.

We anticipate that exhibitors will come from the crime prevention service industry, business support organisations and other companies wishing to network and promote their products and services to other businesses.

The exhibition and conference will be widely publicised and we anticipate excellent interest in this event. To book your stand and secure the best positions email mikew@heartlands.co.uk or fax Mike Wilkinson on 0121 327 3720.

We are still working on our programme but confirmed speakers will include:

" Introduction - Assistant Chief Constable, Nick Tofiluk

" "Lorry and Load Theft" - Mike Farmer, Regional Director,
the Road Haulage Association

" "Internet Crime" - Christopher Linfoot, IT Director, LDV

" "Credit Card Crime" - Scott Palmer, Association of Payment Clearing Services.

" "Business Crime Reduction Programme" - David Suszek, Government Office West Midlands

" "Domestic Violence and how this can affect your business!"
- Paula Harding, Birmingham City Council

" "Arresting Arson in Business" - Nick Bason, Policy Advisor, Assn. of British Insurers.

" "Birmingham Retail Crime Operation" - Chris Read, MD Birmingham RCO

" "Tracker Stolen Vehicle Recovery" - Dave Richards, Police Liaison Officer

" Crimestoppers - Richard Scott, Chairman WM Crimestoppers Board

" Graffiti - Mark Vickerstaff ENCANS

" "Keep Business in Business" - Phil Butler, WM Police