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)

BID Company Operations Director

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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Brian Northcote (Sierra 88)

BID Company Operations Officer

With over thirty years service with the Wiltshire Constabulary, Brian has significant experience within different aspects of the force. This led to his selection for a frontline role in problem solving work with politicians and other high profile members of the community. He was also recruited to write national guidelines and procedures in various aspects of policing for the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers.

In 1994 the reward for his work with the community was an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Brian joined the Town Centre Management team in July 2000 following retirement from the Police Force.

Brian’s experience has been invaluable in strengthening the security partnership that originated in the town centre, but that now offers services around the Borough and into Wiltshire. He has introduced new standards of protocol and training, which has recognised nationally.

Strengths: Security and Police background, management of major public events, good communication skills, problem solving, good local knowledge and established contacts.

Expertise: SIA CCTV accredited, Alcohol Licence Holder, Security Management, Radio Communications, Event Management, Major Incidents and Evacuation, Management of Crime Intelligence, Health and Safety and Risk Management.

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 member for 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.

James Curran Street Team member for area 3 (Sierra Tango 03)

My role involves working all businesses within location 3 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, prioritising issues relating to violence against staff, customer theft and criminal intelligence.

Crime reduction had been the focus of my academic studies prior to becoming a member of the Street Team. During this time I gained a BA (Hons) in Crime, Law and Policy and an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice. This knowledge, together with my practical experience gained working for Special Events Security and SCRIP has provided me with a sound understanding of how to effectively reduce crime.