Businesses tackle crime in CBD

KEEPING SAFE: Watchdog Security's Jane Searle will speak at a seminar on Thursday, which aims to teach businesses how to keep their staff and customers safe. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 270614SP3

Rotorua businesses are taking a proactive approach to preventing crime in the inner city.

On Thursday a seminar will be held for inner city businesses, which aims to teach staff how to keep themselves and their customers safe and prevent crime in or around their business.

The seminar, called Better Business through Active Crime Prevention, is being organised by the Rotorua District Council and a number of partner organisations.

It comes at the request of businesses wanting to make the CBD crime-free.

Watchdog Security's Jane Searle will speak at the seminar, giving people the opportunity to learn more about how they can increase safety for staff and customers, how to reduce stock loss and prevent crime.

"It's all about teaching businesses how to deal with threats, theft, fraud and other crime," she said.

Ms Searle said these crimes were prevalent in any CBD. She hoped the seminar would give businesses the tools and knowledge to help minimise the risk of these crimes occurring.

Rotorua District Council's inner city revitalisation portfolio lead, councillor Karen Hunt, said the seminar was an acknowledgement that public safety and crime were always front-of-mind issues for people visiting or working in any central city area.

"As a result of working closely with our local city businesses over recent months, we're already seeing new vitality and confidence in our inner city.

"But we want to see more and more people coming in and enjoying a safe and vibrant environment for shopping, dining or entertainment - day and night," she said.

"This seminar will help local businesses identify preventative action they can take to keep themselves, their staff and their customers safe, so I would urge all local retailers to attend."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Darrin Walsh said he encouraged all chamber members, and all other businesses, to attend the seminar.

He said it was fantastic to see such positive steps being taken to prevent crime in businesses and in the CBD.

The crime prevention seminar is supported by the Ministry for Justice, Rotorua police, Rotorua Inner City Focus Group, Neighbourhood Support and Watchdog Security.

It will be held at the Rotorua's Energy Events Centre from 7.15am to 11am. Breakfast will be provided. Entrance is $15 per person and spaces are limited.

To register for the seminar, email shared.services@rdc.govt.nz.