Croydon town centre businesses to unite for Safer Business Action Week 2025

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

During SaBA, Croydon BID will deliver a week-long programme of targeted operations, training, and public engagement across the town centre. Working closely with the Metropolitan Police and local partners, the BID aims to tackle business crime, support frontline staff, and create a safer, more secure environment for businesses and visitors.

Safer Business Action Week (SaBA) is a national initiative designed to reduce business crime through coordinated operations and collaborative action. The programme brings together police, local authorities, business crime partnerships, and BIDs across the UK to improve public safety and support frontline staff.

This year, Croydon BID and its partners will take part in SaBA by delivering joint patrols, offender interventions, crime prevention initiatives, and community engagement to help businesses operate safely and confidently. The programme will focus on protecting staff, tackling repeat offenders, and strengthening long-term partnerships between police, local authorities, and the business community.

Croydon BID’s planned activities include:

Retail Day of Action

Led by the Town Centre Policing team, this operation will focus on retail crime, intelligence gathering, and proactive offender intervention. Around 18 MET officers will work alongside Croydon BID and local retailers to improve safety and share intelligence.

Business Police Patrols

Police engagement patrols will visit approximately 50 town centre businesses to gather intelligence, take crime reports, and offer support. Targeted patrols with Croydon BID Street Rangers will also take place, including weapons sweeps at known hotspots.

Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training

Agent: MET Police – Licensing Team
Dates & Times: Tuesday 11th November, 10:00 -11:30am, Thursday 13th November, 2:30 – 4:00pm
Location: London South Bank University Croydon Campus

To support venues and promote safety for women and girls, licensed venues are invited to attend WAVE training. Delivered by the MET Licensing team, this training equips staff working in the night-time economy with the skills to identify and respond to vulnerability, reduce violent crime, and create safer venues.

Get in touch to RSVP: https://croydonbid.com/contact/

Public Safety Fair

Agent: Croydon BID (in partnership with Croydon Police and local agencies)
Dates: Tuesday 11th November 2025
Times: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: North End, Croydon Town Centre

A multi-agency event in North End, Croydon, focused on personal and community safety. The fair will give the public an opportunity to learn about crime prevention, fraud awareness, and staying safe online, while engaging directly with local safety partners. Participants include the Barclays Fraud & Safety Roadshow, Croydon Neighbourhood Watch, Street Pastors, London Fire Brigade, Trading Standards, and Cyber Safety teams.

NO BOOKING REQUIRED.

Women’s Personal Safety Training

Agent: Good Sense Training
Date: Wednesday 12th November 2025
Times: 9.30am and 1.00pm
Location: London South Bank University Croydon Campus

A free, women-only self-defence workshop designed to equip participants with practical techniques, increased confidence, and a clear understanding of self-defence principles.

Get in touch to RSVP: https://croydonbid.com/contact/

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Day of Action

The MET will host engagement stands and visit local businesses to raise awareness around VAWG and gather intelligence on local issues.

Metropolitan Police Bike Marking Event

Agent: Metropolitan Police – Fairfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT)
Date: Friday 14th November 2025
Times: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Location: Podium Area, Ruskin Square (outside the Home Office buildings / BOXPARK walkway)

A public engagement session at Ruskin Square offering free cycle security marking and advice, helping residents and employees protect their bikes from theft.

NO BOOKING REQUIRED.

Croydon Business Crime Partnership (CBCP) Membership Drive & Training

Throughout the week, Croydon BID Street Rangers will visit member businesses to provide training, support incident reporting, and encourage new memberships.

Croydon BID Radio Link Membership Drive & Training

Throughout the week, Croydon BID Street Rangers will review existing equipment, deliver refresher training, and engage new businesses in trial radio memberships.

While crime and safety can be challenging to discuss, they directly affect our town centre, local businesses, and the people who work and visit here. Safer Business Action Week gives us the opportunity to bring together businesses, the police, and the wider community to tackle crime head-on. By working together, we can protect frontline staff, support local businesses, and create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits Croydon. Initiatives like SaBA aren’t just about one week of activity, they help build lasting partnerships that benefit our town centre well beyond SaBA.

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive, Croydon BID

Safer Business Action Week 2025 will provide a valuable opportunity for Croydon’s business community to work together to reduce crime, strengthen local partnerships, and create a safer town centre for all.

For more information about the operations and events, Croydon businesses can contact Shaun Webster at shaun.webster@croydonbid.com.

For more information on Safer Business Action Week, visit the National Business Crime Centre website: https://nbcc.police.uk/business-support/saba-days