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The BID joins in and supports work with the Police and other key stakeholders on projects and initiatives that help make our streets safer to support the daytime and evening economy.
The BID runs the St Albans Business Crime Partnership (SABCP), which amongst other things, provides the security radio scheme – Shop Safe, for hospitality and retail businesses and the Disc – crime sharing app, with the aim of reducing business theft and crime. To facilitate the scheme, we also provide radio connections to St Albans City and District Council CCTV room and the city centre neighbourhood policing team. We continue to meet with these key stakeholders on a regular basis so that we may understand key issues for our city centre and receive reports on behalf of the businesses we support.
ShopSafe Radio
ShopSafe Radio is a business-to-business communication tool used to share ‘live’ safety and security incidents and concerns between businesses, alerting each other to be aware of, or take necessary action as needed to protect your business, customers, or staff from crime and anti-social behaviour.
Membership of Crime Reduction groups
BID sits around the table of the Joint Action Group (JAG) to connect with services and organisations delivering schemes to address and improve public and business safety. BID joining in and supports work with the Police and other key stakeholders on projects and initiatives that help make our streets safer to support the daytime and evening economy.
BID attends the Independent Business Action Group meetings (IBAG) to represent businesses in St Albans and keep up to date on specific themes of business crime issues. IBAG meetings are open to all businesses and you can learn about its work here: IBAG
BID has signed up to OWL – the Hertfordshire Business Watch to get the latest alerts and updates on activity. Schemes to become members of include, Business Watch, Shop Watch and CCTV Watch where your CCTV can be linked to the OWL network to support police investigations. Its free to join: OWL
Awareness & Training
BID seeks to support BID members by sharing self-help information, signposting to learning opportunities and sponsoring direct training. In early 2023, BID funded the purchase of Bleed Kits for hospitality businesses and provided training on how to use the kit prior to recipients being given the kit.
Visit the events & training page for the latest training opportunities in the St Albans Area.
National Business Crime Centre
The NBCC (National Business Crime Centre) has commissioned a series of videos designed as a training aid for those working in the retail sector to empower employees in the areas of personal safety and de-escalation, saying no – refusing service, deterring and interacting with thieves and handling disruptive behaviour. Take a look here: nbcc.police.uk/business-support/shopworker-videos
The NBCC is a great resource for free training and information about business crime. Take a look at their website and subscribe to receive their newsletters.