AN organisation dedicated to stamping out crime in Blackburn has won a top award.

Blackburn Business Against Crime (BBAC), headed by The Mall Blackburn’s security manager Ronnie O’Keeffe, has received the Safer Business Award.

The accolade comes after the group was audited by the Association of Business Crime Partnership, which praised its activity and the results achieved since Mr O’Keeffe took charge last year.

The group has more than 80 members, made up of retailers, security officers, police and town centre CCTV operators who can call on more than 200 cameras across the Blackburn BID area.

Everyone carries a radio system that allows them to share updates of any potential criminal activity and there are daily crime alerts on recent crimes, arrests and known criminals .

There are also monthly meetings and chair of the BBAC, Mr O’Keeffe, attends regional crime meetings with the police.

A new, interactive intranet is about to be launched to share information about active criminals across the region.

In addition, the BBAC has worked with the Blackburn BID to part fund a new Police Community Support Officer for the Townsmoor Retail Park and pledged to increase the number of CCTV cameras in the area and the dedicated support of the Town Centre Police Team.

Mr O’Keeffe said: “It is a testament to the hard work of all our members.”