Swindon Crime Partnership | Helping To Reduce Crime In Swindon

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> Who we are and what we do

Who We Are & What We Do

SCRIP is the organisation working to reduce business crime. The town centre management company, inSwindon, manages the partnership on behalf of Swindon businesses.

SCRIP has responded to business crime by forming a partnership between inSwindon, businesses, the police and other enforcement agencies. At SCRIP we are committed to reducing business losses through the prevention of retail crime, and to increasing profit for all businesses by providing a safe and secure environment that will attract visitors. We do this by:

Working together with businesses, the police and other enforcement agencies to reduce crime;
Offering advice and support for the reduction of business crime, in person and via the member website;
Providing a radio membership system which will link you to other businesses in Swindon and to the police;
Having access to CCTV across the town to help prevent and detect crime;
Collecting data on all individuals carrying out criminal activity and conducting a weekly intelligence meeting;
Issuing Exclusion Notices to offenders;
Employing a well trained ‘Street Team’ who work with you to control crime and disorder;
Devising and implementing crime reduction initiatives regularly, such as preventing purse-snatchers.

Aims and Objectives

Our Aims:

To increase the awareness of the incidence and implications of business and retail crime in Swindon town and neighbouring commercial centres;
To agree and implement a strategy to reduce the fear and incidence of crime in Swindon Town Centre and neighbouring commercial centres;
To ensure that commercial centres within the SCRIP area are safer and more secure places to the benefit of the whole community.

The Key Objectives:

The prevention and detection of crime;
The apprehension and prosecution of offenders or suspected offenders;
To cause a decrease in business crime losses for participants in the scheme;
To reduce the opportunity for individuals to commit crime;
To strengthen the partnership between inSwindon, Swindon businesses, the police, the local authority and other agencies.

SCRIP - Team

Bernie Maguire (Sierra 89)

inSwindon (SCRIP) Security Consultant
Following careers in the Armed Forces and the Prison Service, Bernie moved into retail security where he held senior regional management positions with BHS and B&Q. Bernie’s affiliation with Swindon began when he relocated to take up the post of Security Manager at Debenhams.

In 1996, Bernie moved in to Local Government working as Street Trading Officer in the town and then Assistant and Acting Town Centre Manager. In 2000 he was promoted to Town Centre Manager. One of the major achievements for Bernie in Swindon is the creation of the Swindon Crime Initiative Reduction Partnership (SCRIP). This organisation has been promoted as one of the good practice examples of its kind in the country and has received various accreditations and industry awards.

Strengths: Retail and security background, good local knowledge and established contacts, problem solving, good communication skills, project management.

Expertise: SIA CCTV accredited, Alcohol Licence holder, Security Management, Event Management, Operational Town Centre Management.

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SCRIP and the role of the Street Team

It is the role of the Street Team to work with the inSwindon BID Company’s Operations Director to manage Swindon Crime Reduction Initiative Partnership (SCRIP). The Team’s role has been divided into four areas which are listed below.

1) Provide a visual presence to reduce the fear and incidence of crime by means of:

Patrolling the Business Improvement District.
Intervening and controlling incidents of anti-social behavior.
Promoting a sense of security and well being to businesses and the public.

2) Assist businesses in the prevention of business crime by means of:

Increasing awareness of the incidence and implications of business crime.
Offering advice and support for the reduction of business crime.
Encouraging businesses to work together to reduce business crime.
Monitoring, maintaining and encouraging the use of the radio network.

3) Provide security support to businesses in need of assistance:

The Team will assist in security matters where necessary. Violence against staff is their primary concern, as are situations that have become, or are of considerable risk of becoming unmanageable by staff or security on the premises. It is not the role of the Team to attend any security matters that are ‘under control’.

However, the Street Team is aware that there are vulnerable businesses that may find it difficult to control security related situations. The Team will attend these situations as and when requested to do so.

4) Manage all SCRIP criminal intelligence for the prevention of crime:

Encourage members to share criminal intelligence within the partnership.
Collate, exchange, process and manage all information relating to crime within Swindon and the surrounding area.
Distribute criminal intelligence to interested businesses in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Street Team and their areas - Swindon Map

Phil Ballard Street Team Supervisor and area 1 (Sierra Tango 01)

I have worked on the Street Team since its beginning early in July 2007. I was in the security industry for 11 years, with experience in retail, commercial and plain clothes security. I worked as a Warrants Enforcement Officer for Thames Valley Court Service, executing warrants of arrest for non-payment of fines. I have also worked for Reliance when they had a Home Office contract monitoring offenders electronically tagged.

I enjoy working in the team and like working with the public. I thrive under pressure and enjoy the variety of everyday life in Swindon. I am always available if you wish to have a chat with me. My area includes Faringdon Road and some of the licensed premises in Bridge Street and Fleet Street.

Richard Wood Street Team member for area 2 (Sierra Tango 02)

I have worked as a member of the Street Team since the scheme began in July 2007 and have brought a wealth of security experience to the role. I have extensive experience of working with the local bar and club scene as a Licensed Door Supervisor and I have provided specialist security for the England Football Team and for events such as Royal visits to Swindon.

As the Street Team member for ‘Area 2’ I am available to offer advice and support to all businesses in this location and to answer any questions you may have either by phone or in person.

Tim Paradise Street Team member for area 3 (Sierra Tango 03)

I joined the Street Team in January 2009. I have come from a retail Loss Prevention background mostly made up by Six years for music retailers HMV although I have worked in Swindon and alongside SCRIP for nine years in total. My key strengths are in Health & Safety, Risk & Loss and Conflict Management.

My role involves working all businesses within my beat area to reduce business and street crime. I believe that this can only be achieved when working in partnership with member businesses and other agencies. I deal with all matters on a personal basis concerning both town centre management and business crime, prioritizing issues relating to violence against staff, customer theft and criminal intelligence.

Kulvindar Gopal Street Team member for area 4 (Sierra Tango 04)

I joined the Swindon Street Team in July 2008 and have enjoyed working in the town centre and being part of the team. My main expertise and skills have been gained in the security industry. I have worked in the frontline and operational capacity predominantly swindon and in the south of England.

As an LPO I have trained various stores in security awareness and helped to highlight issues which may improve overall reduction in crime.

My main skills have been focussed on customer care and therefore I am very confident in communicating with people to assist with any issues and problems that may occur.