Member Article

GMP award for CityCo’s business crime champion

Mike Rawlings, training and liaison officer at Manchester’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership, has been named Business Watch Co-ordinator of the Year by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), for services to the retail sector in Manchester city centre.

Mr Rawlings has worked for CityCo, Manchester’s city centre management company, who co-ordinate the Partnership, for 15 years.

A retired police officer, he served with GMP for 32 years, with the last six based in the city centre as a Detective Sergeant in the CID office.

On receiving the award at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, he said: “I am accepting this award on behalf of so many people who put a great deal of time and effort into reducing retail crime, not least members of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership.”

“This award is given in memory of Bill Lowe, who I worked with at GMP for many years and was a personal friend of mine. I am therefore very pleased to have my name associated with the trophy. I learnt a great deal from Bill when I moved from serious crime to retail theft and I’ll always be grateful for his help and advice. It’s nice to be recognised and know that what we do is appreciated.”

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan from GMP, on presenting the award said: “Mike Rawlings is a worthy recipient of the Business Watch Co-ordinator of the Year Award for his sustained support to the police and retailers in Manchester City Centre for more than 15 years.”

Rob Dyson, Manchester’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership added: “Mike does a consistently fantastic job and is key part of our team.

“Over the years he has trained literally thousands of people in using the radio network system, store security and how to handle credit card fraud. This award is very well deserved and recognition of the important part he plays in tackling business crime in Manchester city centre.”

Previous winners of the Business Watch Co-ordinator of the Year award have included Manchester’s Primark store and Phil Burke from Manchester’s pub and club network.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .