Croydon BID and partners deliver action-packed Safer Business Action Week 2025

Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) led the town centre’s participation in the National Business Crime Centre’s Safer Business Action Week (SaBA), which ran from Monday 10th to Friday 14th November 2025.

Throughout the week, Croydon BID coordinated a programme of targeted operations, staff training, and public engagement, working closely with the Metropolitan Police and local partners. The aim was to tackle business crime, support frontline staff, and create a safer, more secure environment for businesses and visitors alike.

SaBA is a national initiative designed to reduce business crime through collaboration, bringing together police, local authorities, business crime partnerships, and BIDs across the UK. In Croydon, the week featured a series of key activities, including:

Key Activities

Retail and Business Patrols

Or Retail Day of Action on 13th November involved 18 police officers, supported by unformed and plain clothes teams from major retailers including Tesco and M&S. The operation delivered 25 positive interventions, including:

13 stop-and-searches
2 arrests and 2 other positive enforcement interventions
8 PSPO enforcement actions

BID-funded police patrols on 11th November visited 44 businesses over 16 hours to provide guidance, gather intelligence, and strengthen links between police and the business community.

Training Programmes

Training was central to SaBA, with over 40 participants attending specialist sessions:

Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training: 20+ attendees learned to identify and respond to vulnerability in licensed venues.
Women’s Personal Safety Workshop: 20+ attendees took part in practical self-defence workshops, including staff from the Home Office, Skipton Building Society, and H&B.

The Good Sense Training Women’s Personal Safety Workshop was both engaging and enjoyable. All of us who attended benefited in multiple ways, whether by observing or participating in the exercises. It was fantastic how the trainer, Alex, delivered the information using a varied blend of communication skills and a great sense of humour. A huge thank you to Croydon BID for organising this highly valuable event to promote women’s safety in the borough. We look forward to attending this course again in the future.

Alison Pantin, Security Guarding Admin Team at The Home Office

Public Engagement and Safety Awareness

The Public Safety Fair on 11th November welcomed over 350 members of the public, offering advice on crime prevention, fraud, and personal safety.

Partner organisations included Barclays Fraud & Safety Roadshow, Croydon Neighbourhood Watch, Croydon Age UK, Street Pastors, London Fire Brigade, and Trading Standards.

The week also featured the VAWG Day of Action and Bike Marking Sessions, and bespoke walkabouts with key local business representatives.

Croydon Business Crime Partnership & Radio Scheme

Croydon BID Street Rangers supported businesses throughout the week, providing training on the CBCP website and Radio Link scheme. Key outcomes:

20 venues received refresher Radio Link training
2 radios issued, with 2 new applications pending
Total Radio Link scheme membership now 97 businesses

Business and Community Impact

The week engaged a wide cross-section of Croydon businesses, from large employers like Mott MacDonald and PPF, to major retailers including M&S and HSBC, as well as independent operators such as Ludoquist, Specsavers, and The Dog.

By combining police operations, business engagement, training, and public events, SaBA 2025 not only addressed immediate safety concerns but also aimed to strengthen lasting partnerships across the town centre.

Across the UK, crime and safety remain challenges for towns and cities, affecting local businesses and the people who live, work, and visit them. Croydon is no exception, but this week has shown what can be achieved when partners come together and take action. Croydon BID and its Street Rangers, local businesses, the MET police, and community partners united to protect staff, support retailers, and engage the public. Safer Business Action Week is more than a single week of activity – it’s a demonstration of lasting partnerships that are making Croydon safer and stronger for everyone.

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive at Croydon BID

Summary of SaBA Week’s Outcomes

Police & Security Interventions: 25 positive actions including 13 stop-and-searches and 2 arrests
Business Engagement: 44 businesses visited; senior-level engagement with major employers and local operators
Training Attendance: 40+ participants across WAVE and women’s personal safety sessions
Public Engagement: 350+ residents engaged at the Public Safety Fair
Radio Link & CBCP Scheme: 20 venues trained, 2 radios issued, 2 new applications pending, total 97 businesses supported

For more information about Croydon BID’s ongoing safety initiatives, businesses can contact Shaun Webster at shaun.webster@croydonbid.com.