Last week saw the return of the Lancaster BID Safe & Secure Business Breakfast, supported by Castlegate Security Services and hosted at Royal Kings Arms Hotel.
Over 30 BID Levy Payers and associate member businesses – along with guest speakers from the Police and Crime Commission, Lancaster University, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire Police and Pubwatch – met over breakfast to discuss city centre initiatives including our BID Warden, the Disc system for sharing details of frequent offenders, Street Aid and the new Public Space Protection Order covering the city centre which came back into force in December.
During the Q&A, we heard from the business owner’s perspective with some great ideas discussed for Safe & Secure group collaborators to explore and potentially implement in the future. A range of good ideas emerged from the discussions which will be taken forward by BID and our city centre partners.
Specific suggestions included potential training for businesses in dealing with shoplifters and working to increase awareness of Street Aid to discourage giving to beggars and help them find support to leave the streets.
Businesses were also encouarged to sign up to Disc to maximise the effectiveness of the shared intelligence. Email [email protected] to request a welcome email.
Since the event there has already been evidence that the Police have been listening to feedback with an announcement of an increased presence of the neighbourhood policing team this week including plain clothes officers to target ASB in the city centre.
Lancaster BID has a follow up meeting with the police next week where we will ensure your concerns remain a priority and that partners continue to work together to achieve long term solutions.
