Partially funded by Croydon BID, the initiative saw the deployment of 25 police officers who worked in tandem with Croydon BID Street Rangers, officers from Croydon Council’s ASB (anti-social behaviour) team, and business security teams across the town centre to address crime head-on. This collaborative approach resulted in 14 arrests, including one for carrying an offensive weapon and handling stolen goods, alongside 12 stop and searches.

Over 15 retailers participated in the day of action, including Tesco, Boots, Primark, Sainsbury’s, JD Sports, and Marks & Spencer.

Drug and alcohol outreach teams from Change Grow Live were also deployed to engage with individuals in rough sleeping hotspots, extending support and services.

Beyond reducing the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on businesses, the operation aimed to foster deeper relationships and enhance communication within the town centre business community. Improved street-level communications, facilitated by the Croydon BID Radio Link, played a crucial role in enhancing monitoring capabilities and expediting responses to potential incidents.

The Croydon Metropolitan Police Service also extended 15 additional officers to support live facial recognition efforts, leading to 9 arrests.

Croydon BID represents over 500 members across the town centre, investing c. £250k into working through the challenges of business crime. This includes: the introduction of our Croydon BID Street Rangers; the upgrade of our Croydon BID Radio Link; the freely accessible Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership; and the valuable partnership work with agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Service.

For full details of how Croydon BID works to reduce the impact of business crime within Croydon town centre, please visit: croydonbid.com/business/resolve