We are delighted to announce that the North East Business Crime Reduction Centre is about to be launched in two different events - the first over breakfast at the Marriott Hotel, Gateshead, on Thursday 29 June hosted by the Centre's website sponsors ADT Fire and Security.

The second will be a Master Class to be held at Reliance Security Services, Gateshead at lunchtime on 18 July.

Anne Tate, Chief Executive of the Coalition said: "Research shows there is a perception that crime against businesses is irrelevant, costs of crime are simply absorbed by the business or covered by insurance.

"This is a misconception. Let alone the impact upon the staff affected the additional costs to the business hit the bottom line. It is imperative that businesses in our area are as competitive as possible if we are to sustain a vibrant local economy. The Business Crime Reduction Centre aims to help achieve just that."

The Centre is sponsored by Reliance Security Services, based in Gateshead. Their General Manager, Malcolm Fitter, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the Centre which we see as a continuation of the private/public partnership of modern policing.

"We decided to sponsor this initiative as a sign of our commitment to help reduce crime in the north east. We are convinced this joint initiative from the police, public sector and private security industry will yield impressive results in reducing business crime."

The website, sponsored by ADT / Tyco Fire, allows businesses to get up to date crime prevention material and be kept aware of any current scams. It also provides a discussion forum and allows businesses to provide details of incidents of crime as well as problems relating to crime in order to see if anything can be done to improve matters, for example establish a business watch scheme.

To attend the launch contact Dawn Cairns at [email protected].

For more information about the Centre visit: www.businesscrimecentre.org.uk.

Northumbria Coalition Against Crime, Northumbria Police HQ, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0BL
Telephone 01661 868 424, Fax 01661 868488, E-mail [email protected]