BUSINESSES in one part of Hampshire are being urged to rally together in a new crime deterrence drive.

The Federation of Small business (FSB), which has thousands of members in the county, has hooked up with New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP).

It wants businesses large and small to share views on how best to tackle the problem of crime and work to develop a range of new initiatives.

As a first step, NFBP is asking businesses to share their views via its website www.nfbp.org.uk.

It is broadly focusing on the following issues:

Are businesses reporting all crime, even if there isn't an insurance claim?

Is crime a significant problem for firms in the area?

Practical ideas and solutions which could be adopted either by individual businesses or through the work of one of the partnerships.

A local businessman - nationally renowned as a security and crime prevention specialist - is helping to lead the way.

Paul French, vice-chairman of the New Forest branch of the FSB, will be representing the business community on the New Forest Community Safety Partnership Operational Group.

He said: "I have worked with many of the UK's police forces and a number of major retail companies, as well as initiating Citywatch, Business Watch and Pubwatch schemes in town centres and retail parks around the country.

"We need to identify the issues facing the business community on crime and then work closely with partner organisations to find solutions."

The safety partnership is made up of the district council, Wessex Youth Offending Team, New Forest Voluntary Services Council, New Forest Primary Care Trust, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, National Probation Service, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary and the Forestry Commission and FSB.