A meeting between the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Cambridgeshire and the Police and Crime Commissioner was held to discuss issues affecting small businesses.

Graham Buck, former regional chairman of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire branch along the two area leaders, Alan Todd and Malcom Lyons as well as Doug Balderson.

They were representing FSB in Peterborough and came to give the views of small businesses throughout the region about the crime that affects around two thirds small businesses in the county.

Also attending the meeting were Rebecca Tinsley, cyber security advisor for Cambridgeshire Police and Supt. Laura Hunt, head of the partnership and operational support department.

The meeting was held to discuss issues that are important to the 35,000 businesses in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough including cybercrime, theft from vans and rural crime.

Malcolm Lyons, area leader, said: “We had very positive discussion with Mr Ablewhite and were able to pass on lots of tips to our members about what they should do to avoid being victims of crime.

“We also looked at how closely we could work in partnership with the constabulary to help to get out messages to small businesses about contributing to police intelligence and how they can avoid being victims in the first place.”

Jason Ablewhite said: “I was very pleased that FSB came to see me. Small businesses are the life blood of the Cambridgeshire economy and we do not underestimate what a devastating effect crime can have on them.

“I would encourage all small businesses to report crime against them and to protect themselves from crime as far as possible.

“For instance, a perennial crime is an overnight one where individuals who have travelled to our county for work purposes are having tools stolen from vans left unattended in the hotel carparks where they are staying.

“To counter this issue we are working with local hotels to provide security advice, and certainly, as this and other issues illustrate, it is when businesses do their upmost to protect themselves and their customers from any and every form of crime that we stand the greatest chance of success; the greatest chance of keeping ourselves safe.

“We value the work of FSB in raising awareness of the issues such as this and how to protect themselves against being victims of cybercrime.”

Businesses in Cambridgeshire are encouraged to report crimes using the following website: www.cambs.police.uk/report/Report.

Cybercrime should be reported using the Action Fraud website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud