Eastbourne business crime group

You can learn more on the Eastbourne Business Crime Group.

Working together to prevent crime

The group works together to prevent crime in a range of different ways. This includes banning persistent offenders from local businesses, such as shops, bars and nightclubs. They also aid the Police in tackling shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity.

The EBCG uses an Intranet system to share up-to-date information on offenders and business crime with its members. They also use a security radio network to communicate with businesses in the town.

The group is part of Sussex Business Crime Partnership that operates a cross county ban for travelling offenders. In addition we are Home Office accredited by the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships with distinction.

Eastbourne Business Crime Group leaflet (PDF) [412KB]

Reformed Eastbourne

This is a diversion scheme run primarily for low-level offences where the offender is dealt with by Community Resolution, or is referred in by Police Youth. It is for offenders aged 12 years old and upwards. The aim of the scheme is for the person to reflect on their actions. We give them tools to make better informed decisions in the future by looking at the root cause for their behaviour/actions. It also allows us, where appropriate, to make referrals to other services. 

We work out of Causeway School and Peacehaven Community School.

Retail crime project and business wardens

The Retail Crime Project is a partnership project. It tests the use of business wardens and crime reporting using DISC Littoralis with the business community.

The project was initially funded by the Home Office and The Southern Cooperative, totalling £249,000 over a 2 year period with the aim of making £5.6 million savings. The Southern Cooperative and Sussex Police are now funding the project, with similar projects being run in co-ordination with Sussex Police and Sainsburys.

The project operates in Eastbourne, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Crawley, Mannor Royal, Bognor and Arun Districts.

Working to improve the town

The EBCG works closely with partners to look at the best way to tackle crime within our town. You can learn more from this article in the Sussex Express - Police bosses and businesses discuss crime crackdown

In the past we have run multi-agency operations conducting  a day of action tackling crime in Eastbourne town centre. These were organised by the EBCG and targeted the impact on businesses of shoplifters, begging and anti-social behaviour.

In August 2020 we worked with the PCC's office, Sussex Police and the Community Safety Partnership to secure funding for a Safer Street Project.