A city centre crime reduction strategy led by Liverpool BID Company described as an ‘outstanding example’ of how cooperation is making Liverpool safer. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership has been described as an “outstanding example” of how partners can work together to make cities safer.

Designed to make city centres safer for businesses and employees, there are more than 250 business crime reduction partnerships in the UK. In Liverpool the initiative is led by Liverpool BID Company.

A partnership between the BID, Merseyside Police, Liverpool Nightlife CIC and Liverpool City Council, the scheme has now been awarded a National Standards Accreditation.

This provides a benchmark of achievement and success, helping to give reassurance to businesses, police and other stakeholders and importantly those visiting the city centre, that the partnership is working and provides good value for money.

In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership includes two full time Merseyside Police officers who provide BID levy payers with a direct response to non-emergency enquiries about safety, anti-social behaviour and security issues seven days a week.

The DISC Intelligence Sharing Platform allows intelligence sharing across businesses in the city centre for both daytime and night-time economy businesses.

There are also intelligence sharing briefings, which discuss safety issues across the BID and a City Watch officer is funded by the BID to monitor the radio link network on Thursdays during retail hours, Friday and Saturday evenings/nights.

The BID radio link network has more than 180 active digital radios operated by businesses themselves to provide reassurance and intelligence sharing, operating 24 hours a day.

Maxine Fraser, managing director of Retailers Against Crime CIC, said: “Congratulations to Liverpool BID who have achieved the national standard for BCRP accreditation.

“They are an outstanding example of working in partnership and engaging with their businesses daily going above and beyond what is expected, in particular through their exemplary working relationship with Merseyside Police.”

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Shaun Holland, director of operations at Liverpool BID Company, added: “Liverpool is an extremely safe city and this is recognised through our work in partnership with the statutory and voluntary sectors.

“Our success, in being recognised and accredited Nationally through the BCRP and commented on as outstanding in our Partnership work has and continues to demonstrate our commitment as a BID Company.

“That feeling of safety and reassurance does not happen by accident. It takes lots of hard work and commitment by all of the partners to collaborate.”