Wiltshire's first Business Crime Reduction Partnership launches in Salisbury

Businesses and residents in Salisbury will be among the first in Wiltshire to benefit from a new partnership approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the city.

The Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) was launched at the Guildhall yesterday (Monday 10th November), with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner bringing together Wiltshire Police, Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire Council to prevent and deter criminal activities and create a safer environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors to the city.

The collaboration between the partner agencies marks a significant step forward in proactively addressing issues related to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, is confident the BCRP will have a positive effect on the city. “Retail crime is a key focus of my Police and Crime Plan, and we have to recognise that it’s not just a business issue, it’s a community issue.

"It affects livelihoods, safety, and the vibrancy of our city and town centres. That’s why my office is committed to supporting the Salisbury BCRP, which bring together police, businesses, and local authorities to create safer spaces for everyone.

“As budgets become tighter, we must work efficiently and effectively to make the most of our resources, so our residents and businesses see and feel the benefits of our partnership working.”

Businesses who sign up to the Salisbury BCRP will join existing members of Salisbury BID in accessing technology known as DISC, which enables them to share information between BCRP members and makes it easier to report crime and anti-social behaviour to Wiltshire Police.

Dan Collins is the Business Manager at Salisbury BID. "The Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership represents a major step forward for our city. It builds on years of investment and leadership from Salisbury’s business community, whose commitment has made this partnership possible.

"By combining real-time intelligence sharing, direct reporting through our online intelligence system and close collaboration with Wiltshire Police and our local authorities, we’re creating a safer, more resilient city centre.

"Salisbury is now setting the benchmark for the county, showing how businesses and partners can work together to reduce crime and protect our communities."

Once the BCRP is established in Salisbury, the ambition is to establish a BCRP in every neighbourhood policing area in Wiltshire and Swindon in order to bring businesses closer to their local policing teams and local authorities.

Chief Inspector Ben Huggins is from Wiltshire Police. "The Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team remains firmly committed to supporting the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and addressing the challenges posed by business crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) within the local community. We recognise the significant impact these issues have not only on individual businesses but also on staff wellbeing, public confidence, and the wider community’s sense of safety.

"As we progress with our involvement with the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership, our focus is on intelligence-led policing and consistent engagement with the retail sector.

"Through working together, we want to show retailers increased confidence in reporting retail crime."

One of the key focuses of the BCRP will be to reduce anti-social behaviour and low-level crime through partnership work with local authorities and by addressing the root causes of ASB.

Cllr Mel Jacob, Wiltshire Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships, Engagement, Libraries, Leisure, Culture, Corporate Services, Governance and Operational Services, said, “Wiltshire is rightly proud of its reputation as one of the safest counties in the UK. But safety is not static—it must be protected, invested in, and continually improved. That’s why the development of the Salisbury Business Crime Reduction Partnership is not just timely, but essential.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with Wiltshire Police and other key partners to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, but we also recognise that we must evolve.

“This year, the council has significantly increased its support for the Community Safety Partnership, enabling more coordinated, multi-agency problem solving across the board.

“I want to thank everyone involved in this partnership and assure people that we remain fully committed to supporting this vital work.”