Lancashire Constabulary is inviting local businesses large and small to its annual Crime Prevention Conference.

Supported by the National Business Crime Centre, the Conference is being held on Thursday, 5^th December at Ewood Park, Blackburn.

The event will bring together speakers from a range of backgrounds including cyber-crime, Modern Slavery, Counter Terrorism and violence against retailers.

Michael Grime, Business Crime Coordinator for Lancashire Constabulary said: “Crime prevention is key to reducing the risks of becoming a victim of crime and we want to work with businesses to educate them on the simple steps they can take to reduce their risks of being targeted by criminals.This conference is one way we do that.

“Evidence shows that criminals are less likely to target businesses where crime prevention methods, such as CCTV, alarm systems and security products are in place.

“So, whether your business is large or small, the event will provide valuable insight into how to reduce the risks of things going wrong through proactive crime prevention methods and also look at what to do if your business is targeted by criminals, both online and offline.”

Additionally, the event will see the Pan Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership launch their Modern Slavery Business Support Toolkit to mark International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

Developed in conjunction with a Lancashire business, the Toolkit aims to help ensure the transparency of business’s supply chains and to reduce the risk of Modern Slaves being used in these supply chains.

Sion Hall, Chairman of the Pan Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership, added: “Businesses most often come into contact with Modern Slavery where there are complex global supply chains. To try and combat this, the government’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 created a legal requirement for companies with a turnover of more than £36M to compile and publish a Modern Slavery Statement.

“Whilst this legal requirement to prepare a statement only applies to larger companies, here in Lancashire we believe the whole business community, regardless of turnover, has a moral responsibility to mitigate the risks of Modern Slavery within their own supply chains.

“As part of the work of the of Pan Lancashire Anti-Slavery Partnership, we have prepared a free Business Support Toolkit to help business in our county reduce the risk of Modern Slaves being used in their supply chains and help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”