19th April 2017: Safety and security in Luton town centre will be given a boost thanks to Luton Business Improvement District (BID) who is funding two new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
The BID has provided £25,000 of funding for the PCSOs to patrol prominent town centre areas daily from the beginning of April until spring 2018, providing a valuable, high visibility and easily accessible uniformed presence.
Gavin O’Brien, Chair of Luton BID and co-director of town centre based business Clearhead, said: “This is a significant step towards improving safety and security in the town centre.
“We pledged in our BID business plan to work with the Police and other agencies to develop business crime intelligence sharing opportunities and help tackle antisocial behaviour and crime issues because these are the issues that continue to be very important to BID businesses. Town centre security will continue as a main strategic objective for the BID.
“Our previous funding of two PCSOs in the town centre over the Christmas period made a real difference, and we were keen to work to Bedfordshire Police on a longer-term arrangement. The PCSOs daily presence will certainly improve town centre security and have a positive impact upon the visitor experience and everyone’s reassurance and feeling of personal safety in the town centre.”
Kathryn Holloway, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner added: “This is the best possible example of the business community working directly with policing to improve safety and respond to crime in their area. I agreed with Luton BID to trial payment for two PCSOs in Luton town centre before Christmas and this was so successful that they decided to put this on a more permanent footing.
“This is good news for Bedfordshire Police and for all those who shop, work or enjoy leisure time in the town centre, as well as the businesses which provide these opportunities there. It is a great way for businesses to put something back into the town too.”
In addition, Luton BID is also continuing to lead on and support other security initiatives such as the successful Safer Neighbourhood Days and the digital business crime radio scheme managed by Luton Business Against Crime (LBAC) for businesses to share crime and security intelligence. The BID also works closely Neighbourhood Environmental Enforcement Officers and the NOAH outreach team on various safety and security projects.