New crime reduction partnership for Horsham District

A new Horsham District Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) has been formed and is encouraging local businesses to sign up. Launching initially in Horsham Town Centre, membership will be opened-up across the whole of Horsham District by the end of 2023.

The BCRP will use DISC – a secure app for information-sharing and reporting business crime and anti-social behaviour – that is already used in over 550 towns and city centres nationwide. DISC can be used on mobile phones, includes instant messaging, and reports directly to the police. It enables businesses to upload information, incidents, CCTV images, and photos and acts as a platform to alert others to offenders and issues as well as swift direct crime reporting to the police.

The app is ideal not only for local retailers and pubs, but also for other public-facing businesses such as leisure centres, sports clubs, train stations, and food outlets. It is quick and easy to use and will help local businesses to receive information and report issues that they may not previously have had time to do.  

DISC has already been used successfully by other local partnerships. In the past 12 months there have been over 3,000 crime reports and over 700 alerts via DISC across Sussex.

The Horsham District BCRP’s new Board comprises Ben Hewson (chair) from Horsham BID, Ross Andrews from Horsham Pubwatch and Gill Buchanan from Swan Walk Management. Horsham District Council and Sussex Police are non-executive members. A number of local retailers have already shown an interest in joining the Partnership.

Thanks to Horsham District Council securing funding from the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, membership of DISC is free for BCRP members for the first three years.

In support of the new Partnership, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Wellbeing Cllr Sam Raby said:

“I am really pleased to see the launch of this new national DISC system for use by local retail and public facing businesses. It will enable them to respond to crimes such as anti-social behaviour and shoplifting by sharing information with neighbouring businesses and Sussex Police in real time.

“A great example of partnership working to give positive results for our community.”

For more information or to join the BCRP/DISC, email your details, business name and location to communitysafety@horsham.gov.uk.