The Chamber is to host a seminar entitled Driving Crime Out Of Business, which will highlight the commercial costs of crime and its wider implications for the business community.
Run in association with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue, Milton Keynes Council and Thames Valley Police, the event will consider the nature, scale and cost of crimes against business.
The Business Crime Survey last year revealed that more than a quarter of businesses had been affected by burglary or attempted burglary. Theft from vehicles is also a significant problem and electronic crime is on the increase. Some 60 per cent of respondents had been victim to computer virus infection, hardware or software theft.
Business crime also affects profitability, can deter investment and, in some cases, hasten business closure, said a Chamber spokesman. It also caused distress for staff, saps morale and affects staff turnover.
Speakers at the seminar are:
Milton Keynes community safety manager Richard Solley, who will discuss the role of the Community Safety Partnership;
Ali Gillings, who will outline how the Partners Against Crime organisation helps businesses;
Jan Hodgkinson, from Thames Valley Police, will look at practical ways of protecting property and sites;
Her colleague Christine Duncan and Linda Kendall of SmartWater will explain why the ‘SmartWater’ strategy benefits businesses and the police;
Peter Jones, of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue, will discuss how to reduce risk at no extra cost.
The event, sponsored by insurance brokers Layton Blackham, is free to Chamber members. It takes place on April 16 from 7.30am to 9.30am at the Chamber offices in Avebury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes.
