16,500 shops in crime reduction partnership with Facewatch

National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) partner with Facewatch in the UK’s largest ever crime reduction initiative

The NFRN is to be the first National sponsor and official partner of the not-for-profit company Facewatch & Partners in a three year deal, enabling over 16,500 independent shops to participate in a ground breaking initiative to quantify an accurate picture of the prevalence of low level crime in our communities and take positive action to reduce it in partnership with police forces across the UK.

The scheme will provide all 16,500 NFRN members with a bespoke crime recording module which will be a very simple way to record all shoplifting and other low level crimes as they occur, providing accurate and real time statistics on crime across the UK, whether reported to the police or not. Members will also be able to use the full Facewatch crime reporting system for reporting crime directly to the Police as Facewatch is adopted by forces throughout the UK. Facewatch can now be used to report low level crime anywhere in London.

The bespoke NFRN crime recording system will allow shop owners and managers to record an incident as soon as they are aware of it and without leaving their tills; as well as record data on the level of shrinkage that occurs and currently goes unreported.

Facewatch has already proven its effectiveness in pilots in London throughout 2011 to deter and reduce low level crime. For NFRN members who do not have CCTV cameras, special package deals will be available through Facewatch/NFRN partners.

Benefits specific to the NFRN as founder partners include:

• Pre-registration for all members to simplify getting started

• Text-based recording system for quicker crime stats recording

• Access to Crime Map showing real crime levels for NFRN membership, providing valuable lobbying information by highlighting the real level of under-reporting of crime

• Development of smartphone apps for members to increase efficiency of communication with members

• NFRN Board position on Facewatch & Partners (Chaired by Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas)

• Special offers for members with discounts from partners

Kieran McDonnell, National President of the NFRN,

“The NFRN has been campaigning on the problem of retail crime for many years and I am delighted that we have now been able to take this leading role in bringing Facewatch, not only to all our members, but all independent retailers. I think this initiative will be a big step forward in helping members fight the menace of crime in their shops whilst at the same time equipping us with the statistical information that will enable us to achieve the level of police and government attention this problem deserves”.

Paul Baxter, NFRN Chief Executive, and Simon Gordon, Facewatch Founder, will be speaking at the Retail crime conference on the 19th April (headline speaker Lord Henley) about this exciting world leading initiative.

Paul Baxter, NFRN Chief Executive,

“Since 1919 the NFRN has supported newsagents across the UK and our mission is to continuously look at ways to improve our members’ businesses and make our communities safer. As new technology appears, we see it as our role to investigate and introduce solutions we feel will provide benefits to our members. In these difficult times we have seen a rise in shoplifting, violence and criminal damage amongst our members. Facewatch is not only a cost effective way to record and understand the scale of the problem to help us present the facts to the police and the Government in order to compel change – it is the only scheme in existence which allows us to do so. We look forward to working with Facewatch on this exciting and unique product and are proud to be its first National sponsor and official partner.”

Simon Gordon, Chairman of Facewatch added,

“This is the most exciting news we have been able to announce since we formed Facewatch in early 2010. Working with the NFRN is incredibly important for us as it enables over 16,500 newsagents and convenience stores to benefit from Facewatch and work together and with the police online to reduce low level crime. We will be launching the new crime recording system for the NFRN and will develop the product in line with the special requirements of busy newsagents. This interaction is of upmost importance as there are a wide range of different needs and requirements from every type of retailer and we intend to ensure Facewatch delivers a simple and valuable service to business owners, the police and the public.”

Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police officers said,

“I am pleased to support Facewatch for its practical use of technology in the fight to combat crime. The system is a catalyst for businesses and Police to join together; a great example of citizens and Communities getting involved alongside the Police.”

National Federation of Retail Newsagents

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) was founded in 1919 and is one of Europe’s largest retail trade associations with over 16,500 independent news and convenience retailers in membership throughout the UK and Ireland. For more information contact Public Affairs Manager, Niki Haywood, at niki@nfrn.org.uk or on 020 7017 8864.

Facewatch background

Personal theft, shoplifting and other low level crimes such as vandalism are expensive problems for business owners and the public. Facewatch is a proven internet based system which by empowering business owners to work in partnership with the Police allows crimes to be reported quicker, with the correct evidential information and witness statements, enabling the Police to start investigations immediately and enabling the business owner to proactively help the victim.

Facewatch benefits:

• Window stickers act as a powerful deterrent to would-be offenders

• Strong emphasis on preventing and detecting prolific offenders

• Online crime reporting using any device with an internet browser

• No special equipment required – a computer with broadband access is all you need

• Works with any existing CCTV system or even without CCTV for reporting only

• Perfect for shops, licensed premises, hotels and all CCTV monitored premises

• Image sharing in groups such as Pubwatches, Shopwatches, BIDs, shopping centres, high streets, retail chains and larger retail groups

• Direct link to local Police forces and appropriate officers – Police update the crime status throughout the investigation and can use the system for secure messaging between the business and case officers which remains on the case file

• Creation of posters showing images of banned or suspect persons for use by staff

• Full statistical analysis with key performance indicators showing Police status and success rates in solving the crimes

• Fully supported by the Police and the only system to be accredited by ACPO ‘Secured by Design’.

• Creation of full evidential pack including automatic witness statements and crime reference online by the business user

• Free cancellation of victims credit and debit cards by CPP’s Card Protection

• Victim and business updated by Police on progress of crime investigation by email

• Training and communications pack for business users

• Improvement in customer care

Further Endorsements (full list on website):

"Facewatch is a great tool that helps us streamline our process, focus on the people committing the crime, and get to work quickly. If it was rolled out across the country we would see thefts markedly reduced and more of those people who cause this type of misery end up in prison."

Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens, Met Police

"Anything that saves police time and can also improve the victim’s experience has to be applauded. Victims want to know what’s happening once they report a crime – so to be able to report a theft quickly and easily, and then track it online, is a real step forward."

Louise Casey, Commissioner for Victims

"We have to pull together to beat criminals and FACEWATCH is a brilliant way to form business and the police into a crime fighting team. I not only support FACEWATCH but urge businesses to get involved and install the system".

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor, Policing and London Assembly Member

“Victims of crime will.... benefit as they will be able to pass details of their crime to the police without having to wait for an officer to attend, yet can be safe in the knowledge that all the information has been relayed to the police securely and speedily.”

Graeme Gerrard, DCC Cheshire Constabulary

Extract from speech: “It is not all bad news though, because there is some support available to victims of crime provided by both the private and the public sectors. In the case of the former, there are instances of industry providing solutions in the spirit of the big society, such as Facewatch." Read full speech
Mike Weatherley MP, Chair of APPG on Business and Retail Crime

Accreditations:

• ISO 9001

• ACPO – Secured by design (Association of chief police officers)

• ICO – Working closely with Information Commissioners Office

• Data Sharing Protocol: Approved by ACPO lead on CCTV

www.facewatch.co.uk www.nfrnonline.com

Facewatch

For more information please contact:

Stuart Greenfield – PR Consultant

Email: stuart@greenfield.co.uk

T: 07788 662697

Website: www.facewatch.co.uk

Tags: