THE Essex Police Business Crime Team wants businesses and customers to know ‘if you’re at work, you’re ‘just here to work’.

Legislation introduced a year ago places a responsibility on employers to protect their staff from sexual harassment from colleagues, customers, clients and the public.

And business crime officer PC Glen Foote was at Lakeside Shopping Centre this week to sign up more businesses to the team’s Just Here To Work campaign, which promotes workplace safety and conflict management skills.

He spoke with staff at eight businesses during the day and also offered conflict management training to a further seven.

Glen says stores were very supportive of the initiative, telling him staff safety was a high priority.
“We want to make it clear that bad behaviour at work is never okay,” he explains.

“Just Here To Work focuses on stalking and harassment. It supports victims and businesses and reminds staff what behaviour is unacceptable.

“We explain the laws around stalking and harassment, how to report it and what help is available for anyone affected.

“Businesses wanting advice or resources can visit our Business Crime webpages at www.essex.police.uk/businesscrime.”

The Business Crime Team also works with Essex Chambers of Commerce, local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and other partners to share this information.

Posters containing QR codes link people to information on the Essex Police website about stalking and harassment and how to report it.

Glen adds: “We hope our posters will get people talking and remind everyone that flirting or unwanted attention at work isn’t just wrong – it can be very upsetting and is against the law.
“Even if someone doesn’t feel ready to report it, they can still find help and information using the QR codes on our poster, which can be downloaded from our website.”

The Worker Protection Act 2023 came into force on 26 October 2024. It gives UK employers a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work, rather than just responding after it happens. This means businesses must proactively assess risks, update policies, and train staff to create safer workplaces.

What can I do?

If you are the owner or manager of a business and want one of the Essex Police business crime officers to visit you to talk to you about Just Here To Work, contact the Business Crime Team via their webpage: www.essex.police.uk/businesscrime

Find out what stalking and harassment is and how to report it to police: https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/sh/stalking-harassment