A new initiative to help Guildford based businesses reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre has just been launched by Guildford Borough Council’s Environmental Health and Licensing Service and the Safer Guildford Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

Helen Barnsley, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Guildford Borough Council, said: “It is well known that Guildford is one of the safest towns in the county and that is why we are keen to work with businesses and colleagues from Surrey Police to help keep it that way.  There are a number of simple, low cost techniques that businesses can adopt to help manage these risks.”

Letters are being sent to local businesses asking them to address potential possibilities for violence at work, including the completion of a written risk assessment and to have measures in place to prevent and control the hazards.

Tina Griffiths, Community Safety Sgt, Surrey Police said: “Some businesses are already proving to be highly proactive and have excellent recording and detection systems in place to control drugs and manage the risks of violent or anti-social behaviour.  And that is exactly why we want to work with numerous businesses to help pool information, share the wealth of experience and knowledge of those concerned and help adopt best practice throughout the work place.”

This positive and forward thinking approach has already been successfully trialled in a number of areas including Rushmoor and Westminster and with this in mind a number of businesses in the area will be visited in the next few months.

In the meantime, the CDRP wishes to thank all the premises who have worked hard over the last few years to make Guildford such a safe place to live, work and visit.