Commissioner brings Lancashire businesses together to strengthen the fight against business crime

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has this week brought together senior business leaders and police representatives for the inaugural meeting of the Safer Lancashire Business Partnership Joint Advisory Board.

The new forum is designed to strengthen joint efforts to tackle the crimes that most impact shops, retailers and businesses across the county.

The board will meet quarterly and provide a direct link between Lancashire’s business community and policing teams, helping ensure the issues affecting employers, high streets and retail centres are clearly understood and acted upon.

It will support closer collaboration, improved intelligence‑sharing and a more coordinated response to crimes such as shoplifting, harassment of staff, anti‑social behaviour and emerging threats including cybercrime.

This reflects the Commissioner’s commitment to proactive, partnership‑driven work to prevent business crime and keep workplaces safe.

The launch builds on work already under way through initiatives like Operation Vulture, which has increased enforcement against shoplifting and strengthened visibility in retail areas, and Operation Centurion, which targets anti‑social behaviour across Lancashire.

Both demonstrate how important strong relationships with local businesses are in tackling shared challenges and helping reduce crime.

The new Board brings these strands together and gives the opportunity to share insights, raise concerns and help shape local policing approaches.

Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Lancashire’s businesses are vital to our communities, our economy and our high streets. They deserve to feel safe, supported and confident that crime affecting them is taken seriously.

"Bringing businesses together with the police through this new Board strengthens that partnership, giving us a clear and regular forum to hear directly from these organisations, share intelligence and shape solutions to the issues impacting staff and customers.

"We’ve already seen through work like Operation Vulture and Operation Centurion how much can be achieved when businesses and policing work closely together.

"This board builds on that momentum, ensuring the voices of business owners are not only heard, but central to how we tackle crime across Lancashire.

"My priority is making Lancashire a safer place to live and work, and partnership working is absolutely key to delivering that."