A business breakfast was held in the Adair Arms on Thursday 24th October to launch Ballymena’s Crime Reduction Package. There was an excellent attendance of local businesses.

Photo L-R: Trevor Parker (BRAC), PJ McAvoy (BTCD Ltd.), Thomas McKillen (Chamber of Commerce President), Karen Moore (PCSP) and Insp. Alison Ferguson (PSNI).

The Crime reduction package is a joint project between Ballymena Retailers Against Crime (BRAC), Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Ballymena Town Centre Development Ltd. (BTCD), Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) and Mercury Security, and is believed to be the first of its type in Northern Ireland.

The idea is simple – to reduce crime in the retail sector. The Crime Reduction Package contains advice on Counterfeit fraud, Retail theft, Internal theft, Refund fraud, Cyber crime and much more.

Everyone present enjoyed a light breakfast and there were short presentations from BRAC, PSNI and Mercury Security. Figures show that Ballymena has a very low rate of Retail Crime, but there is no room for complacency and this pack will further help tp reduce retail crime. Included in the pack is a Ultra Violet note scanner and a personal attack alarm. Mercury Security are happy to visit individual retailers and give further advice on an individual basis.