Boost for charity’s bid to tackle business crime

People United Against Crime (PUAC) is the only crime prevention charity to be awarded the money by the new College of Policing as part of its bid to build links between local constabularies and academia.

The College, which is the first professional body for the police service in England and Wales, handed out a total of £496,000 to organisations including seven top universities and two police forces.

Bosses hope to create networks for evidence-based policing so new methods and techniques for tackling crime can be tested, helping the service become more efficient.

PUAC, which works throughout the region to cut business crime and strengthen local economies, will use the grant as a first step towards a national roll out of its crime reduction techniques.

It will work with Huddersfield University and officials from South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Humberside to develop training materials for officers. Help will be targeted at small and medium sized businesses who will be offered guidance to help them resist “cyber crime” and more traditional types of offence.

People United Against Crime chief executive David Ransom said: “We are delighted to receive this funding; it provides us with the opportunity to mainstream the model of business crime reduction that PUAC has developed through its Business Crime Reduction Centre.

“As the only charity to be selected, we are pleased to represent the voluntary sector and thrilled to work with the University of Huddersfield and the Yorkshire and Humber police forces.”

College of Policing head of research Rachel Tuffin said: “As the home of the What Works Centre for Crime Reduction, the College of Policing wants to build links between police and academia so the way we go about policing is as efficient and effective as possible.

“This funding will be a springboard for future research and learning so police officers and staff get the best evidence to help them cut crime and keep the public safe.”