This year’s programme focuses on a week of operations, engagement and proactive intelligence-sharing delivered through the Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership (CBCP).
Throughout the week, the Croydon BID Street Rangers will work alongside Town Centre Police officers and partner agencies on a series of targeted initiatives designed to support businesses and deter offending.
Business engagement and PCSO drop-in sessions
In partnership with Town Centre Police, two officers and Croydon BID Street Rangers will carry out engagement visits to businesses across the town centre, offering crime prevention advice, gathering intelligence, and strengthening relationships with local teams.
As part of this activity, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will also host informal drop-in sessions, giving businesses the opportunity to speak directly with local officers, raise concerns, and receive crime prevention advice.
Weapons sweep
Alongside engagement activity, Croydon BID Street Rangers will support officers in carrying out a planned weapons sweep at priority locations. These proactive operations help identify and remove dangerous items from public spaces, reinforcing a clear message that violence and weapon-enabled crime will not be tolerated in Croydon town centre.
Strengthening the Croydon BID Radio Link
Croydon BID’s town centre Radio Link scheme remains a vital tool for instant information sharing between businesses. As part of the programme, the Croydon BID Street Rangers will visit and train existing users, while also promoting the wider benefits of the scheme to new and prospective members. The focus is simple: faster communication means faster prevention.
Promoting MET Engage and CBCP membership
Other activities during the week will include encouraging businesses to sign up to MET Engage – a free messaging service from the Metropolitan Police that keeps businesses connected to what’s happening in their area. Through the platform, members receive timely crime updates, safety advice and local updates directly from the police, helping businesses stay informed and better prepared.
Croydon BID Street Rangers will also deliver a dedicated CBCP Membership Engagement Day, visiting both existing members and new businesses across the town centre. These visits will focus on strengthening engagement with the partnership, providing guidance and training where needed, gathering intelligence from businesses, and encouraging ongoing participation in the CBCP scheme.
Business Crime & Safety Forum
Businesses will also be invited to attend the upcoming bi-monthly Business Crime & Safety Forum on Thursday 26th March. The forum provides an opportunity for businesses to hear directly from partners, including the Metropolitan Police and Croydon BID, discuss current concerns affecting the town centre, and help shape future priorities for crime prevention and safety.
For more information about attending, please contact shaun.webster@croydonbid.com.
Targeting prolific offenders
A key message throughout the week will be the continued progress of Op Kelleher – a sustained partnership initiative between Croydon BID, Town Centre Police and local retailers.
The initiative focuses on building stronger cases against persistent offenders by collating CCTV, statements and offence data to pursue long-term outcomes, including Community Behaviour Orders (CBOs).
Expanding engagement beyond retail
While retail crime remains a priority, this year’s BCRP Awareness Week will also widen its lens. The Croydon BID Street Rangers will conduct safety check-in surveys with commercial and non-retail businesses across Croydon town centre, ensuring offices, service providers and other sectors are equally supported and connected into the partnership.
This broader approach reflects the evolving nature of town centre safety – and the need for every business type to be informed, engaged and equipped.
Why the CBCP matters
The Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership (CBCP) brings together businesses, the Metropolitan Police, Croydon Council and other key agencies to share intelligence, identify repeat offenders and coordinate preventative action. Through real-time alerts, offender briefings, Radio Link communication and sector forums, members are better informed and better protected.
National BCRP Awareness Week provides an opportunity not only to showcase this work – but to strengthen it.
Businesses ready to strengthen their approach to crime prevention can join the Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership, sign up to the Croydon BID Radio Link scheme, or secure a place at the upcoming Business Crime & Safety Forum by contacting Shaun Webster, Director of Operations at Croydon BID, at shaun.webster@croydonbid.com.
Together, proactive partnership working continues to make Croydon town centre a safer place to work, trade and visit.
