Bruce Grove businesses benefit from new crime fighting initiative

Businesses in Bruce Grove, Tottenham are reaping the rewards of a new crime-fighting initiative established by Haringey Council.

The Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) brings together local businesses with the police and council, providing channels for businesses to share information and raise concerns about crime in the area, which is then acted on.

A major success came in late November when the police made 5 arrests and seized a significant quantity of class A drugs in an operation at Holcombe Market targeting persistent offenders in the area. This was made possible by information shared with the police by the council through engagement with businesses participating in the BCRP.

Cllr Ruth Gordon, Cabinet Member for Council House Building, Placemaking and Local Economy said:

“It’s great to see our pilot of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership in Bruce Grove has been such a success and has led to some positive results for local businesses.

“Crime is a major issue for small businesses, and we know from the engagement we have done here in Haringey that many proprietors feel that reporting crime takes too much time and doesn’t lead to improvements.

“As well as making it easier for businesses to report crime, the BCRP project is sending out a clear message that if you report it, the council and police will act.”

Mustafa of Mobilyum Furniture, one of the businesses involved with the BCRP pilot in Bruce Grove, said:

“I am really happy with the BCRP pilot for Bruce Grove, and I have seen positive outcomes since its initiation earlier this year.

“Notably, there has been an increased police presence in and around the High Road, especially over the past few weeks, contributing significantly to a heightened sense of safety and confidence among ourselves and nearby businesses.

“The BCRP has had a very positive impact into Tottenham since its start by the Council, and I am really looking forward to continuing my involvement with the programme and delivery team”.

Another local business said:

“I just want to say thank you to the Council and the Police for making us all feel safer, and I shall continue to report crime on the DISC app, now that I have seen what a powerful tool it and the BCRP is for Tottenham.”

The BCRP has been set up on a pilot basis in Bruce Grove and could be expanded to other areas of the borough following a series of successes in addressing local crime issues.

The initiative is supported through a dedicated app, DISC, which enables businesses to quickly and easily make crime reports and receive information about emerging risks and repeat offenders.