A BUNBURY District Police plan to reduce crime against local businesses and improve information flow between business and police is to become a statewide program.
The Business Police Academy program has already set up in Mandurah and is due in Albany soon. Premier Richard Court has indicated the program could also operate in the Perth metropolitan area.
The academy began in Bun-bury as a joint venture between local police and the South West Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
It is a free police and business-based training package.
Courses include security awareness, crime scene preservation, armed robbery prevention, armed robbery reaction (how to be a good live witness), burglary and fraud and rights surrounding self defence and citizen’s arrests.
Regional Chambers president Rolf Stene said the aim of the training was to minimise crime.
“The concept of the academy is to harden the soft targets,” he said. “Criminals are opportunists. They will not hesitate to invade the lifestyle we enjoy.”
Mr Stene said between 130 and 150 people had graduated from the course so far.
