Wiltshire Police continue efforts to address business crime across the county during a week of increased activity

Safer Business Action Week 2025

Local policing teams across Wiltshire carried out over 100 additional public engagements during Safer Business Action (SaBA) week, which took place from last Monday, 10 November to Sunday 16 November. 

Safer Business Action Week is a national week of action in collaboration with the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), tackling retail crime. Over the course of the week, officers and PCSOs from across Wiltshire visited businesses to understand any concerns they had and offer crime prevention advice where required. Any areas of concern raised will help form the local policing teams’ upcoming priorities. 

Safer Business Action Week aims to strengthen the partnership working between retailers, security, local authorities, and policing to tackle business crime through prevention. Enhanced partnership working improves intelligence sharing to bring offenders to justice and improve safety for those working in retail. 

The week of activity saw police working alongside partner agencies to ensure any concerns could be tackled proactively, by the correct authority. Local policing teams based in Devizes and Warminster carried out joint patrols of town centres alongside Wiltshire Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team. In Salisbury, officers joined Wiltshire Trading Standards on visits to retail premises in the city centre to offer crime prevention and safety advice. 

Warminster Neighbourhood Inspector Lou Oakley is one of two Force leads for business crime.

Inspector Oakley said: “I am extremely passionate about working with our retailers to tackle shoplifting and protect shop workers. We recognise many retail workers face persistent aggressive, threatening behaviour from retail crime offenders, and this is not acceptable. 

“We want to reassure those working in the retail sector, and members of the public, that we are committed to tackling business crime. Part of my ongoing work as Operational Lead is addressing the root cause of persistent offending, which has led to the introduction of initiatives such as the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) panels.”

One of the ways police can proactively address persistent offending is by applying for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for prolific offenders. A CBO outlines certain restrictions to prevent re-offending. This can include the individual being excluded from a specific shop, chain of shops, or areas of town/city centres. 

CBO panels have been set up in Wiltshire by Force Leads on Business Crime, Inspector Louise Oakley and Inspector David Tippetts, where police meet with partner agencies to discuss an offender's suitability for a CBO. Partner agencies in attendance include probation, Connect (drug and alcohol dependency support), mental health advisors, and housing associations. 

The CBO panels provide a holistic approach, ensuring that each offender receives the correct support from the appropriate authorities before an application for a CBO is made to the courts. 

Inspector Lou Oakley continues: “In the fight against business crime, collaboration is key. By establishing a Criminal Behaviour Order panel, we can harness diverse insights and expertise, transforming challenges into strategic initiatives that safeguard our economy and community. This highlights the value of teamwork and a multifaceted approach in tackling business-related criminal activities.

“We need the public to report incidents of theft or threatening behaviour to us by calling 999 if a crime is in progress, or via our website in a non-emergency.”

Currently, there are 27 active CBOs in place across Wiltshire. To find out more about CBO enforcement in Wiltshire, watch our YouTube video here.

Find out more about the specific SaBA activities that took place during the week:

Amesbury, Tidworth and Ludgershall

The neighbourhood policing team (NPT) visited 35 businesses over the week. The team heard about issues including: repeat offending, counterfeit currency, and anti-social behaviour. Officers and PCSOs visited fuel stations in the area to gather intelligence around vehicle-related crime taking place on the forecourts. 

Chippenham, Calne and Corsham

Officers and PCSOs in the Chippenham, Calne and Corsham areas carried out high visibility patrols in local shops. The team provided advice to local retailers and members of the public about counterfeit currency following recent incidents involving fraudulent Scottish and Northern Irish currency. 

Warminster, Westbury, Mere and Tisbury

The NPT carried out a range of reassurance patrols throughout the week, from high footfall areas in Warminster and Westbury, to village stores and farm shops in Semley and Mere. 

Superintendent James Brain and Inspector Lou Oakley visited Warminster CCTV Centre, which covers areas including Warminster and Westbury town centres and West Wilts Trading Estate in Westbury. 

Members of the team attended a local Pubwatch meeting to address local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime relating to licensed premises. PCSO Kolasinski visited rural licensed premises to understand any concerns and carry out safety checks. 

Swindon

NPT officers and PCSOs in Swindon have patrolled high footfall areas, looking out for prolific offenders. The team visited lots of shops to understand what issues they are currently facing, and how the police can support them. 

Over the course of the week, teams across Swindon visited locations including Greenbridge Retail Park, Mannington Retail Park, and McArthur Glen Outlet Centre.  

Salisbury 

The Business Crime Reduction Partnership was launched in Salisbury last week. This is a collaborative initiative bringing together police, local businesses and partner agencies to share intelligence, prevent crime and create a safer environment for staff, customers and the wider community. More information about this initiative can be found on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's website. 

Local police officers and PCSOs carried out additional patrols of the city centre to proactively deter offending. 

Royal Wootton Bassett, Purton and Cricklade

On Monday, the team held a community consultation in Royal Wootton Bassett, followed by engagement at the town’s market on Wednesday. 

Later in the week, they were joined by colleagues from Trading Standards, who seized several counterfeit and unsafe items from local shops.

Devizes and Marlborough

Devizes area NPT have been offering reassurance, discussing crime prevention advice and listening to the issues that matter most to local businesses. The team remain committed to supporting retailers to ensure that Devizes remains a safe place to work, shop and visit. 

The team also visited business in rural areas across the patch.

Trowbridge, Melksham and Bradford on Avon

Officers and PCSOs from Trowbridge NPT visited several key locations across the patch, using the Mobile Police Station. The team carried out high visibility patrols in the following locations:

Trowbridge 

Melksham

Bradford on Avon

You can find out more about the policing activity that has taken place in your area via our website.