15th August 2017: Luton BID has helped improve safety and security in Luton town centre – latest crime statistics reveal.
Figures released show a significant drop in overall incidents of town centre crime this year compared to 2016 stats, with the most notable reductions in occurrences of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting – anti-social behaviour stats were down by 10.5% and there was a 50% reduction in shop lifting, from 86 to 43, against April 2016 stats.
The figures can be directly linked to the BID’s funding of two new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) which began this Spring, and collaborative working on various projects with the Bedfordshire Police, Community Safety Partnership (CSP), Luton Business Against Crime (LBAC), the NOAH outreach team and Neighbourhood Environmental Enforcement Officers.
Gavin O’Brien, Chair of Luton BID and co-director of town centre based business Clearhead, said: “We are delighted with these latest stats. They are very encouraging and prove the BID has made a significant contribution towards improving safety and security in the town centre through initiatives such as our funding of the two PCSOs – now supported further by Bedfordshire Police providing an additional third officer, Safer Neighbourhood Days and our support of the digital business crime radio scheme.
“We still have more work to do, and working with the Police and other agencies to develop business crime intelligence sharing opportunities and help tackle anti-social behaviour and crime will continue as a strategic objective for the BID, because that’s what businesses are concerned about.
“These relationships are crucial to ensure a combined approach which ensures that everyone has a feeling of personal safety when they are in Luton town centre.”
Comments from CSP and Bedfordshire Police.