Safer Towns in Warwick District

National Safety Recognition for three Warwick District Towns......

Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth have been successful in being awarded the national standard Safer Business Award.

Richard Barron from Action Against Business Crime (AABC) will present The Safer Business Award to the three Town Centre Crime Reduction Partnerships at a special press conference to be held at 1pm at the De Montfort Hotel in Kenilworth on Monday October 17.

The Safer Business Award has replaced the previous Safer Shopping Award and aims to develop new standards that are independently assessed by the National Security Inspectorate on behalf of AABC.

The scheme will ensure that there is a nationally recognised standard which will include periodic inspections. The award demonstrates that partnerships operate legally to the highest standards and enhance close working with other agencies and become a gateway for national and regional data sharing.

We are delighted that Warwick, Kenilworth and Leamington have met the national standards to be accredited. More and more towns are now coming on board to reach the national benchmark, but is unusual to see such interlinked co-operation between the three towns. said Richard Barron of AABC.

Chief Inspector Chris Jackson,Warwick District Police Commander said:.

This award is a reflection of a serious and sustained collaborative effort by district agencies to create safer towns for residents and visitors. I am delighted that this effort has been recognised. We are determined to continue working on new initiatives that will make our towns even safer

Leamington Town Centre Manager Paul Haynes added: The awards are testimony to the partnership approach we have adopted and particularly Warwickshire Police, Warwick District Council and the Warwickshire Retail Crime Initiative and Pub Watch.

Adrian Field Town Centre Manager for Warwick said: The award is further success for the partnership approach, this is the third award the district have received in the last 6 months following a commendation from the Association of Town Centre Management and the British Standard 7958 for the CCTV control room operation.

Joe Baconnet Town Centre Manager for Kenilworth said: We are now getting a far greater variety of businesses supporting the crime reduction partnership and this can only make Kenilworth a safer place.