More than 130 businesses in Bournemouth town centre have now signed up to the new Against Business Crime Partnership working to tackle shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.

The partnership is driven by three local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), including the Bournemouth Town Centre BID, and includes local businesses, police and the council.

It was launched in response to rising levels of retail theft, abuse and anti-social behaviour and provides a platform for information sharing and incident recording.

Sign up has been strong since the scheme launched in March.

133 businesses in the Town Centre BID area have joined with more than 350 end users now able to use cloud-based crime reporting platform, supported by the Town Centre BID’s Business Crime Liaison Officer Jackie Arnold.

As a result, reporting is up significantly, rising from 73 incidents reported in June, to 93 in July and 136 in August – reflecting more comprehensive reporting rather than a marked increase in incidents.

Paul Kinvig, pictured left, Bournemouth Town Centre BID Chief Operating Officer, said: “Our members have told us that this system is very easy to use and as a result fewer incidents are going unlogged.

“That clearer, better data can indicate hotspots, high risk times and flag prolific offenders, providing an incisive weapon in the battle against retail crime.

“This tool is already giving police and local authorities the information they need to target action and progress with enforcement – including dispersals, exclusions, targeted patrols, arrests and ultimately more criminal convictions.

“For example, as part of Dorset Police’s ‘100 days of summer’ initiative, which saw enhanced anti-social behaviour patrols, there were 704 hours of extra patrols on foot in Bournemouth Town Centre.

“This activity resulted in 16 arrests, 18 stop searches and 11 x Section 35 dispersals.”

The Against Business Crime Partnership is part of a wider collaborative approach involving Bournemouth Town Centre BID, Poole BID, Bournemouth Coastal BID, UKPAC, BCP Council, Dorset Police & Dorset PCC.

It also includes the Town Team which brings together Dorset Police, Bournemouth Town Centre BID and BCP Council in a bid to improve communication and remove obstacles to effective enforcement within the town centre.

Martin Davies, Chair of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said: “Our collaborative approach is powerful – with better communication and reporting, we can help those statutory authorities in their challenge to improve safety and security for our retailers, their staff, and the wider community.”