Croydon BID Street Rangers complete annual physical intervention training

Croydon BID’s Street Ranger team has completed its annual physical intervention refresher training, an essential part of ensuring that the team continues to operate safely and professionally while supporting Croydon town centre.

From April 2024 to March 2025, the team supported businesses with 542 incidents, including 282 live, active situations that led to 54 arrests. These figures highlight not only the scale of their work but also the importance of ongoing, high-quality training.

Delivered by SWL Security Services, their physical intervention refresher training is designed to equip the Croydon BID Street Rangers with the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively to real-world situations, including theft, anti-social behaviour, and other challenging incidents that occur daily on the high street.

The training focuses on safe restraint techniques, conflict resolution, legal responsibilities, and effective communication, enabling the Street Rangers to protect both themselves and others when situations escalate, while maintaining a calm, controlled, and professional approach.

Our businesses, their staff and the high streets that they occupy are facing unprecedented challenges such as anti-social behaviour, increased levels of shoplifting and daily confrontations and conflicts. Croydon BID’s Street Ranger team play an essential role in supporting our business community with real life, everyday incidents. We are constantly looking to make sure our Street Ranger team have the latest training to ensure they are fully equipped to manage challenging situations safely, professionally, and with confidence. Their visible presence and quick response provide reassurance to staff, customers, and the wider public helping to make Croydon town centre a safer, more welcoming place for all.

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon BID

SWL Security Services, who employ and train the Croydon BID Street Rangers, provide a high standard of specialist training. All new team members must first complete a week-long, role-specific induction designed to prepare them for the unique demands of town centre security and ambassadorial work. Annual refresher courses, such as the one recently completed by the Croydon BID team, are mandatory to ensure skills remain sharp and in line with best practices.

At SWL Security we’re serious about setting high standards in the industry by investing in the skills base of our employees. We see security as a profession, not a stop gap, so we endeavour to enhance the skills of our employees, year on year. And in turn, hopefully enhancing their careers.

Dean Rawson, Media and Business Development Manager at SWL

The training approach prioritises professionalism and control over force, helping to avoid the kind of physical interventions that can appear aggressive or disproportionate.

Most people’s experience of the security industry’s typical physical intervention is that the results are overly aggressive, dangerous and messy. This is a result of little to no training and poor industry standards, which understandably gives onlookers the wrong impression. Ineffective use of compliance techniques gives the appearance of excessive force and usually leads to bad press. Subsequently businesses often then choose to employ a ‘hands-off’ policy. SWL ensures our employees are properly prepared and well-rehearsed in the advanced techniques we equip them with, going way above the industry standard. The system we teach Street Teams allows for a scalable use of force option, based on control and not damage, that they can escalate or deescalate in response to the offender’s actions, resulting in good behavioural management. This means our response is always measured and professional whilst being effective but discreet.

Rob Fitzgerald, Training and Recruitment Manager at SWL

The Croydon BID Street Ranger team patrols the town centre for over 160 hours each week, providing a visible and reassuring presence to support businesses, workers, residents, and visitors. They are an integral part of the community, helping to recover stolen goods, respond to reports of anti-social behaviour, and manage a wide range of on-street issues. Their ability to respond quickly is supported by the Croydon BID Radio Link system, which enables efficient communication and coordination with local businesses.

The completion of this training reinforces Croydon BID’s commitment to creating a safer, more welcoming town centre environment. By investing in the skills and confidence of the Street Ranger team, Croydon BID continues to support its business community.

For more information on the work of the Croydon BID Street Rangers visit www.croydonbid.com/business/resolve/street-rangers

Croydon BID Street Rangers complete annual physical intervention training

Stay in the know

Croydon BID

Explore

Business

What’s On

Guides

News

Contact

Stay in Touch