PROUD city managers say a scheme designed to make Chester a safer place to do business is proving to be a “huge success”.
Chester Against Business Crime (CABC), which was set up about a year ago by Chester Renaissance, has just been presented with the nationally recognised Safer Business Award.
Chief executive of Chester Renaissance, Rita Waters, applauded the news, saying the scheme is having a major impact on the business community in the city after more than £42,000 worth of stock was recovered in the past year.
She said: “Chester Renaissance was set up to drive momentum and bring added value to efforts to complete and accelerate the economic growth of Chester. This scheme is certainly helping us get our message across to a wider audience and helping promote Chester as a safe, must see, European city.
“With almost 200 radios issued to businesses, retail stores, pubs, clubs and the police within the city, and by working in partnership with other stakeholders, information is quickly shared helping to prevent crime and reduce the cost to businesses.
“As a direct result of Chester Against Business Crime more than £42,000 worth of stock belonging to city businesses was recovered in just one year, a fantastic achievement of which we are rightly proud.”
Cllr Stuart Parker, chairman of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWaC) regeneration policy development board, said the scheme is a great example of partnerships working together.
He said: “The work of Chester Against Business Crime is quite simply a beacon of good practice. While we should not forget Chester is already a safe place, I am delighted to support this scheme which is helping make the city an even more pleasant place to live, visit and do business in.
“I congratulate the scheme on receiving this richly deserved award and would encourage any business not already signed up as a member to join as quickly as possible.”
Bob Lelliott, who runs the scheme, said he was delighted with its success.
He said: “This benchmark award recognises and demonstrates our achievements in partnership working. The award is only presented to business crime initiatives after a rigorous assessment by the Home Office-funded Action Against Business Crime Group.
“There are more than 200 similar partnerships in the UK and I am proud Chester is one of the first schemes to gain the award with distinction.”