Business Watch Groups

By definition BusinessWatch is a group of companies who work together to reduce crime and the fear of crime in their own backyard.

Today communication can be easily established with most companies facilitating a virtual group that in reality may never meet.

However experience has shown that the opportunity for business neighbours to meet in a semi-formal environment is beneficial to everyone.

Typical meetings, chaired by a local business champion, are held periodically depending on importance or immediacy of any issues. The Chamber facilitates the meetings, which are usually held in the offices of one of the group members, and invites the appropriate organisations to attend. Working closely with the local authority and the police the groups are able to influence not just security issues but other aspects as well.

BusinessWatch’s are geographical based by their nature, but the opportunity to integrate or network with other groups is afforded by the Derbyshire Business Crime Forum for Business Crime Issues and the Special Interest Groups for others.

Recent activity in different areas has included:

• One-way systems
• The use of double yellow lines
• Salting roads in winter
• Number of business post boxes
• Utility purchasing and potential group buying
• Damaged pallet disposal
• Environmentally friendly waste disposal on a collective basis