1.0 

Scheme Title

1.1

The Scheme will be known as the Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham)

2.0

Management of the Scheme

2.1

The Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) will be representative of the participants and other interested parties, formally constituted and managed.

2.2

A Members Forum  comprising the membership will meet at least four times a year.

2.3

This Members Forum oversee the aims and objectives of the scheme.

2.4

From within the membership of the Members Forum, a Steering Group comprising at least six members from the Members Forum will be appointed to guide, and advise on  the day-to-day operation of the scheme. This group will include a Chairman and Secretary.

2.5

The Steering Group reports to and is accountable to the Members Forum.

2.6

The Scheme Manager will be responsible for the operational and disciplinary  regulation  of the scheme.

2.7

The Steering Group will advise the Scheme Management who will have responsibility for running Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) in compliance with its constitution.

2.8

Voting for resolutions or appointments to the Steering Group shall be by majority vote of  the Members Forum.

2.9

Representatives of the police and other partners involved in the scheme will be entitled to attend the Members Forum and Steering Group meetings.

2.10

Persons other than partners or police may attend at the specific invitation of the Steering Group or Scheme Management.

3.0

Aims & Objectives

3.1

To gather, collate, process, exchange and manage all information relating to crime in Birmingham City Centre and all surrounding areas.

3.2

To reduce and prevent criminality and anti-social behaviour.

3.3

The scheme objectives are:

•   The prevention and detection of crime.

•   To reduce the opportunity to commit crime.

•   The apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

•   To reduce retail crime losses for members.

•   To create a “safe and secure” environment for customers and staff.

•   To strengthen partnerships with the police, local authority and others.

•   To be an integral part of the local community safety strategy.

4.0

Membership

4.1

Membership will be drawn from businesses that trade in the City of Birmingham and representatives of other interested Parties, who will be known as Partners  within the scheme.

4.2

Members must fulfil certain criteria to conform to the objectives of the Scheme before membership is granted. The Scheme Management will ratify applications for membership.

4.3

Members will pay an agreed fee to the Scheme Management. The Scheme Management shall fix this amount annually.

4.4

Payment will be in advance to the scheme account.

4.5

 Refunds will not normally be permitted.

4.6

Members who are in breach of any code of conduct or other rules governing activities of the scheme shall be liable to disciplinary action by the Steering Group. This may take the form of remedial training, written warning or expulsion from the Scheme.

4.7

 

The Scheme Management may suspend a member for breach of the scheme codes of practice or data protection.

5.0

Meetings

5.1

An annual general meeting will be held at date to be agreed.

6.0

Voting

6.1

Each member of the Members Forum will have one vote.

6.2

A quorum for a meeting of the Members Forum shall be not less than five members.

6.3

A quorum for a meeting of the Steering Group shall be not less than four members.

6.4

Where the Steering Group is deciding a disciplinary matter regarding a member
there shall be not less than four members excluding the Scheme Management.

7.0

Administration

7.1

The officers of the Steering Group shall be the Chairperson and, Secretary. The officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from nominations  received from the Membership.

7.2

The secretary should prepare the agenda for Steering Group meetings after consultation. 

7.3

 The Steering Group members as representatives of the membership may propose items for inclusion on the agenda.  These should be notified to the secretary in advance of the next meeting.  Minutes of meetings will be taken and circulated to the Steering Group.

8.0

Funding, Financial Records and Auditing of Accounts

8.1

The Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) should be self-financing.

8.2

The finances and financial records of the Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) scheme will be audited annually.

9.0

Process

9.1

The scheme office shall be established at any suitable place decided by the Scheme Management in consultation with the Steering Group.

9.2

 A manager for the scheme will be appointed by Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) Ltd. in consultation with the Steering Group.

9.3

The Scheme Management may employ additional staff as required.

10.0

Benefits

10.1

Members will be entitled to receive reports, photographs or other information concerning the activities of criminals or others whose anti social behaviour adversely affects The City of Birmingham and its trading environment.

10.2

Members must comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and ensure that they put internal systems in place that enable them to identify excluded persons, repeat offenders and to pass that information to the scheme.

10.3

The police will have proper access to data for the purposes of crime prevention or detection. Other third party disclosure will be within the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998.

10.4

Only non-specific data may be released to assist other crime reduction initiatives / agencies unless they are bona fide members of the Midlands Regional Retail Crime Initiative Ltd.

11.0

Liabilities

11.1

The Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) Ltd. may withdraw the services it provides by giving two months notice of its intention. 

11.2
 

Members may withdraw from the Scheme subject to one months notice.

12.0

Succession

12.1

 

In the event of any future change of ownership of the Retail Crime Operation (Birmingham) Ltd, the Steering Group’s approval would be sought.