Birkenhead BID has launched the Commercial Safety Partnership that will enable businesses to access and share information to help make the area even safer. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses in Birkenhead are to join an online drive to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour impacting on businesses and people in the town.

Birkenhead BID has launched the Commercial Safety Partnership (BBCSP) that will enable businesses to access and share information to help make the area even safer and its partners include Merseyside Police, Wirral Council, Wirral Ways to Recovery and YMCA Wirral.

Public perception

The BID says Birkenhead is no different to any other busy urban area and relatively is a safe place for trade and business but that there is a perception of criminal and anti-social behaviour elements active in the area.

It has allocated two dedicated members of the team, Arfon Williams and Ian Davies, as BID Commercial safety coordinators who will actively engage and support businesses in order to reduce anti-social behaviour and low-level crime.

By launching this Database and Intranet for Safer Communities (DISC), Birkenhead BID is reinforcing and supporting the importance of making Birkenhead a safer place for business, residents and visitors.

Key component

Gemma Nichols, head of Birkenhead BID said: “Reinstating the DISC, the Birkenhead BID Commercial Safety Partners is a key component for us to ensure that we are able to support all of our businesses with any challenges they face with regards to anti-social behaviour.

“Having a dedicated team in place to deliver this and support the businesses on a day-to-day basis is paramount. Equally we need to ensure that businesses are working together with the team enabling us to work collectively across the BID area to tackle the challenges that we face within our community together.”

Negative impact

Paula Basnett, chief executive of Wirral Chamber of Commerce, added: “We are aware of the negative impact that anti-social behaviour and low level crime can have on businesses and residents alike, so through this initiative and partnership we look to not only address how we can reduce these issues, but also to send a clear message that or any form of crime or anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”