Essex Police recently held a Safer Business Action day at Stansted Airport. Safer Business Action (SaBA) Days are a joint approach by police, private sector businesses, private security, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs) and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) working in partnership to focus resources into designated locations to create a significant impact to reduce crime.

The objective of the SaBA day is to deliver:

• a focussed operation with joint patrols, 
• the targeted intervention of offenders
• a range of crime prevention activity

Through:

• Working in collaboration to create awareness and understanding of the crimes that affect business.
• Demonstrating the importance of tackling crime to protect and safeguard frontline staff.
• Developing local, trusted relations leaving a legacy of partnership working.

The SaBA day saw 13 officers joined by a member of airport staff complete agreed objectives, including:

• Increasing support to retail and public facing airport staff through raising awareness of the abuse and violence that service staff are subjected to, especially to check in and boarding gate staff.
• Working with retailers in World Duty Free and Boots to complete joint security checks on internal theft issues. 
• Licenced premise visits, to ensure all is in order
• High visibility patrols in the retail shopping areas.

This is the second SaBA Day at the location. Since the first day conducted June 2023, a strong working relationship has evolved between the Essex Police, Stansted Airport staff and retailers. All teams have been able to look at crime prevention techniques to assist the retail sector with issues around shoplifting and internal theft concerns.

Feedback shows Blue Star Handling, who cover the Check-In desks, have valued our support on the day and as a result they will be conducting staff briefings around when an offence occurs, how and when to consider reporting to police.  This now forms part of their daily briefings.

An excellent working relationship with World Duty Free has seen Essex police working jointly to advise on security measure in a unique environment. On the day a family were stopped which lead to a Community Resolution being issued for theft shoplifting. This was very well received by management.

We are now looking at implementing an information sharing platform at the airport for the retail sector. Interaction with staff on the SaBA Day has informed us it would be well received.