Birmingham Retail Crime Operation

Mick Barnes Co-ordinator

"Birmingham Retail Crime Operation has helped develop ACIS in order to provide its membership with the kind of information and intelligence that protects staff, reduces stock loss and stimulates active partnerships for the purpose of crime reduction.

We were happy to share the technology with Crime Reduction Schemes and other persons who are engaged in reducing crime.

We have used our considerable experience in handling high volume data in respect of retail, car and business crime, anti-social behaviour orders, drug abuse and violence etc. in order to develop ACIS.

ACIS allows us to legally handle this data and produce high quality reports and graphs that are second to none. Its predictive ability to analyse data and produce ‘Tomorrow’s Daily Intelligence’ briefing sheet is both effective and exciting".

BULLRING - BIRMINGHAM

Richard Scharenguivel

Bullring Deputy General Manager comments on how the Bullring Control Room uses ACIS.

"We have been using ACIS now for a number of years now and find it very user friendly. The search function has saved Bullring control room staff hours of time as ACIS searches can be run on minimal information.

It is a fast, effective and legally-compliant way to keep track of known offenders and various incidents that they are involved in. Bullring control room produces a Daily Intelligence report which is used by Bullring security to identify excluded persons. ACIS looks at patterns of offender behaviour and produces a word document, this alone it a great time saver.

Bullring control room uses the graphs and statistics on a monthly basis to help the management team see when offenders are entering the centre and the type of incident they are involved in.  The graphs, charts and reports are of a high quality and can be emailed securely." 

BURTON ON TRENT

Since its launch in July 2004 the Burton Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BBCRP) has brought a fresh new approach to Crime Reduction in Burton upon Trent.  After consultation and research with the Police, Home Office and all relevant parties, locally, regionally and nationally, the foundations for a new scheme were put in place.

The scheme has developed relatively quickly bringing a structure and nationally recognised format to encourage and develop crime reduction in Burton upon Trent and the BBCRP was awarded the Safer Business Award in 2005. 

Moira Bertoni Town Centre Manager states

“After consultation with Chris James we realised the valuable tool on offer in the form of ACIS.  We had recently launched the BBCRP Partnership and were looking for an effective way to provide partners and members with data on incidents and excluded persons along with the ability to produce statistics to evidence the effectiveness of the partnership.

Through funding by four County Councillors we were able to install ACIS in October 2004.

ACIS is extremely user friendly and amongst other things enables us to alert members and partners of persistent offenders on a regular basis.

The success and appeal of the system has warranted  a read-only version of ACIS is now in operation within the CCTV Control room”

CV One (Coventry)

Trevor Pepper

"We have used the Active Crime Intelligence System for several years and we fully support it. CV One use it to manage crime intelligence here for all of Coventry and find the system a great asset to our partnership working within the City."

CV One the company mandated by Coventry City Council has used other databases in its search for crime reduction.

The company runs the Coventry Crime Reduction Operation and have found that ACIS is like a breath of fresh air. It is user friendly and after use caught up with the back log caused by the poor performance of their previous database.

The police are looking to ACIS to supply them with statistics to identify the top ten prolific volume offenders in order to obtain CRASBOs.

Coventry issued its first CRASBO some of the success in getting this order is down to ACIS and the company’s close working partnership with the Police.

HIGH WYCOMBE

Jette Peddie Co-ordinator

"The ACIS Intelligence System has been absolutely fantastic in assisting me as the Scheme Co-ordinator in recording incidents and producing circulations in an easy to use way.  The circulations listings are easy to do and has cut down my time and effort in producing them.  Our scheme has in excess of 80 members and I used to produce the circulations list on Powerpoint printing up to 10 pages per member – this is now down to 4 pages!

What I like most about ACIS is that it is a living system and when I come across things that I would like to see included or changed, all I do is contact ACIS and they take up the suggestions and either include them or tell me why it is not possible.  How many software systems allow you to do that?

The system adheres to the Data Protection Act so I don’t have to worry about having information that I really shouldn’t have access to.

It is absolutely brilliant!!!!!"

LEICESTER CITY WATCH

Graham Collins Co-ordinator

"City Watch-Leicester now has an Offender data base which is user friendly. It is easy to access, imputing has been made simple, it is easy to search and analysing data is just the click of a button.

What more could be simpler for dinosaurs like me! For the first time in four years our input tray is empty, this allows me more time to interrogate the data then disseminate accordingly.

One of my first successes was a house number which appeared 5 times. After a search the same address appeared to be used by 5 offenders. Details of this search was passed onto the Police and they are looking at the address with a view to obtaining a search warrant.

Since ACIS was installed, the hours spent inputting and searching have been drastically reduced, allowing me to be more out of the office than in. I am able to see clients and obtain worthwhile intelligence that, in the past, I would never have had.

Clients receive Daily Intelligence, crime trends and monthly statistics relating to offender habits.

All in all, I could not do the job without ACIS." 

LINCOLN BUSINESSS IMPROVEMENT GROUP

Yvette Hall

As a regular user of ACIS I find the system both easy to use and also very flexible, at Lincoln BIG we use it for both day time security intelligence reports and also for pub watch intelligence.

On the monthly intelligence presentation for the Security group meeting I use the export to Power Point option which saves massive amounts of time, and also use graph options to show the stores the latest statistics, without the ACIS system my job would take twice as long!

LOUGHBOROUGH

Sue Walters - Co-ordinator

"I only started using ACIS in March, but once I got into the swing of it, it was a doddle!  Chris' training was excellent.  It was not rushed, and allowed time to go over any aspects that I was unsure about.  It is also comforting to know that if I need help, I can contact ACIS at anytime.

I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive when I received my first update a few of months ago, but I followed the instructions and found it easy to do.

I can produce comprehensive reports for intelligence meetings at the touch of a key, which makes life so much easier.

All in all, I find ACIS very user friendly and easy to use."

Mansfield Safer Business Partnership

David Wilson - Scheme Co-0rdinator

Mansfield Safer Business Partnership have been using ACIS since our conception in July 2006. We have been delighted with the results we have achieved of a 22% reduction in crime This has been assisted by the use of ACIS which is easy to use, saves time creating circulations and powerpont presentations  and assists Data Protection compliance with regular reminders for reviews. The recording of incidents enables predictive analysis and the deployment of Guards at the times the offences are likely to happen. With other ACIS users coming on line we are now able to share intelligence on Regional and National thieves through the ACIS encrypted messaging system.

Midland Regional Crime Initiative

         Paul Smedley - Director (Intelligence)

MRCI is to ensure that each partnership is able to manage personal data in a legal and appropriate way, within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act, and in accordance with established good practice.

It is important, therefore, that each partnership has protocols and procedures in place to guide their actions. It is beneficial for the scheme to have a computerised database on which to hold and manage crime data. The database needs to be designed for the intended use, be fit for purpose, and be able to provide a proactive device for data management, statistical analysis and management tools.

ACIS has proved itself to be spectacularly efficient, and able to support crime reduction partnerships to manage their data requirements. It offers a pro-active solution, which no other database we have seen, has yet matched. It is easy to master, and provides many functions which are not available elsewhere. ACIS is extremely good value for money, and should be part of all scheme’s development programme.

I recommend that all partnerships look and evaluate ACIS, and talk to current users, before making decisions on their IT solutions.

NOTTINGHAM CITY

Matt Etchells-Jones Co-ordinator

"ACIS has been useful in producing a document that is ready for distribution swiftly and enable a more aware and therefore empowered partnership of businesses across Nottingham."

PLYMOUTH

Paul Martin

"PARC has found ACIS invaluable in assisting our analysis of crime trends in Plymouth. Over the past 4 years it has helped our scheme become extremely efficient, with our members enjoying regular data feedback."

Rochdale

Debbie O'Brien- Town Centre Manager

"ACIS has pulled together our partners by providing such a sophisticated and exciting way to help us in our fight against crime.  It is a very user friendly system which has even engaged a number of computer illiterates

We at Rochdale find ACIS in our scheme has improved the amount of information that we can get to our members and at a speed.  Having read only versions for our shopping centres has made a difference.  I hope that the system continues to be a success for all who use this service." 

Safer Shrewsbury Shop and Pub Watch

Richard Goodchild - Co-ordinator

"Having used BIC'S and then ACIS. I found that ACIS was far easier to use, so simple and could give far more information.

I have been using ACIS since it was first introduced, not being very computer literate I find it quite easy to use and help is always at hand."

SANDWELL TRADERS

Peter Griffin

ACIS suits our purpose purely because it quite simply and does what it is intended to do!

No other system is as efficient at data and intelligence management, enabling the fast and accurate analysis of information and the production of Partnershipreports.

Stoke on Trent

Julie Davies Co-ordinator

"Stoke on Trent Business Crime Partnership is a long standing Partnership of some 20 years.  We cover both the daytime and nightime economies.  We have been users of ACIS since its introduction some four years ago.  For our partnership ACIS is an excellent user friendly tool which allows us to manage and be in control of our data in a way which suits our needs.  The main part of our partnership is intelligence led and as a result  ACIS  is in use on a daily basis.  It also has excellent analysis facilities which we use regularly in order to provide information to our members, the police and all the other agencies involved in the management of crime and disorder within Stoke on Trent.  More recently we have launched a Countywide Scheme PABCIS and all of the partnerships within PABCIS also use ACIS allowing our information sharing to be consistent.

We also receive excellent support from Chris James and his team in relation to ACIS  who in turn are always open to suggestions for the development of the system from those of us who use the system to manage our partnerships on a daily basis.

For us, our Partnership is strengthened by the use of ACIS which has resulted in the detection of many additional offences, allowed us to evidence anti-social behaviour orders and identify crime patterns and trends and build profiles on offenders and suspected offenders."

SWANSEA BUSINESS CRIME REDUCTION PARTNERSHIP

 Norma Thomas  Co-ordinator

"As a complete novice of database inputting, analysis and report production I can without hesitation recommend ACIS.

I quickly gained a clear understanding of its many functions, it is easy to navigate, user friendly, ‘idiot proof’ and a pleasure to use.

Customer service is excellent, and I have never yet been let down at any time of day or evening when urgent advice has been required."

Swindon

The Swindon Crime Initiative Partnership (SCRIP) was created to reduce the incidence, and public perception, of crime and anti-social behaviour in, and around, Swindon Town Centre.  Lead by Town Centre Management, its active members include Wiltshire Police, Swindon Crime and Disorder Team, Street Wardens, Education Welfare, businesses, licensed premises and various voluntary organisations.

The Partnership is intent on being as proactive as possible in deterring and dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour and sees the ACIS system as a key tool for achieving this objective.

Town Centre Manager Bernie Maguire states:

“The ACIS system enables us to quickly and easily prepare real-time intelligence bulletins for our members on the street, and that includes police officers.  The proof of their effectiveness is in the 60% clear-up rate that we can currently demonstrate for information sent out.

The ability to manage our intelligence through this system means that we can choose what is sent to whom and when.  The software is user friendly and has an impressive back-up and support service.  Key to our recommendation of the system is that we have been able to work with the key partners to secure ASBOs and have gained praise from local magistrates.” 

The Partnership has now moved on a further step and has supplied a locally used laptop for police officers, with a supplementary copy of the ACIS software.  This means that key partners are now using and sharing intelligence in the same way thus increasing the time spent out on the street dealing with persistent and prolific offenders.

TAMWORTH TOWN SAFE

John Carthy

Being a relatively new user of ACIS my experience is slightly limited, but the more I use the data base the easier things become. I also know that help is only a phone call away and any problem can be sorted out.

As with all systems the information that can be given out is dependant upon the information that is received, so as we hold meetings I take my laptop with me and show the type of reports that can be produced from ACIS this will hopefully encourage more members to send me reports.

The Police at our local station are very impressed with the information that can be processed by the touch of a button.

ACIS is customer friendly and entering and retrieving data is easy and uncomplicated.

Warwickshire Retail Crime Initiative

Peter Guillaume - Business Crime Manager (Warwickshire Police)

The Warwickshire Retail Crime Initiative use ACIS to prepare all their target packages.

The scheme now has 401 members.  Member target packages are renewed 4 times a year. WRCI has recently branched out and now provides the professional support to two Pub Watch schemes that have joined.

We would not be able to manage the large volume of work without ACIS or managing the targets in the system.

"ACIS has pulled together our partners by providing such a sophisticated and exciting way to help us in our fight against crime.  It is a very user friendly system which has even engaged a number of computer illiterates

Worcester City Net

Jack Hince  - Co-ordinator

"I have used several Intelligence Databases since 1987. Some during my police service and latterly in my post as Intelligence Manager / Coordinator of the above group. ACIS is without doubt, the most cost effective, user friendly and pro-active system I have ever used.

I am no longer a storage library for information, which disappears into the proverbial black hole. ACIS has reduced my inputting time by half and allows me to collect, evaluate, analyse, disseminate reliable and meaningful information to all levels of our local partnership with ease and speed.

For over 20 years I have worked in Intelligence circles and have had access to many different forms of databases.

ACIS is without doubt, one of the best I have ever used. It’s no nonsense user friendly approach to the management of all forms of intelligence is exceptional. The system is under constant evaluation and is regularly updated to suit the end users requirements. This concept allows for local personalisation of information so that the database grows to suit the needs of the local CDRP.

ACIS is an essential management tool for all CDRP’s who want to successfully collect, evaluate, analyse and disseminate reliable information to all levels of a local partnership.

ACIS is a value for money 'MUST HAVE' – I don’t know how we would manage without it in Worcester."

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