A business partnership in Redbridge working towards cutting crime for the past 10 years has been acknowledged with a special award for the work it does alongside police.

With 130 members, Redbridge Businesses Against Crime has gone from strength to strength since it started in 2003, when it offered a network of radios between business owners in Ilford Town Centre in a bid to reduce criminal activity.

The group, which works across Barkingside, Wanstead and George Lane, South Woodford, was awarded a distinction from the Association of Business Crime Partnerships at IF Bar, in Ilford Hill, Ilford.

Organiser Reg Woda said: “Our system has been acknowledged as trustworthy and despite making changes over the past two years, we have managed to maintain what we did, as well as make enhancements.

“It is the perfect way to mark our tenth anniversary.”

Since the group was established the programme now has an online service for businesses with photographs of known offenders, as well as a mobile service so members can receive alerts from the police.

Mr Woda, a consultant at Skills at Work, Hatchwood Close, Woodford Green, said: “I used to be Ilford’s Town Centre manager and have been involved in business for the past 30 years, so felt I could offer some knowledge on what needed to be done.

“The police believe it adds something extra to the work they do, as they can only follow up on reported crimes.

Mr Woda added: “We have made it easier for businesses to report incidents as previously it was time-consuming for busy owners.”

Redbridge Businesses Against Crime is also in discussions with Redbridge police in addressing the problem of prostitution in Ilford Lane, Ilford, and hopes to reduce the impact it has on “reputable” shops in the area.