Businesses in Leeds city centre are being urged to keep a close eye on crime by joining a re-launched partnership between police and local traders.
Businesses Against Crime In Leeds (BACIL) aims to reduce crime throughout the city centre at all hours of the day and night, and even more traders are being encouraged to get involved.
Originally launched in June 2006, BACIL currently has nearly 235 members. These include shops and shopping centres, pubs, clubs and bars within the city centre and its outskirts.
Members are linked via a radio network which is used to alert the City Neighbourhood Policing Team and other businesses about crime and anti-social behaviour or other suspicious activity.
Along with preventing and detecting crime, the scheme also helps to identify regular offenders and ban them from entering BACIL premises for as long as two years.
Anyone found breaking the ban could face punishment under Anti-Social Behaviour legislation.
As part of the re-launch, all BACIL members will be issued with new digital radios which will link daytime businesses and premises which are part of the night-time economy providing a seamless, 24/7 service with greater links between all involved.
BACIL premises will also be more easily identifiable, courtesy of a new logo with will go on display in shop windows and business frontages.
Inspector Richard Clarke, who is responsible for the City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said: “Crime continues to fall across Leeds city centre year-on-year, and one of the main reasons for this is the close relationship officers have with traders through the BACIL partnership.
“The new and improved scheme including the digital radios will make it even easier for businesses and officers to work together to combat crime.”
BACIL has a dedicated police officer which manages the scheme, and members receive information not only on known offenders but also crime trends and hot spots, along with newsletters and regular crime prevention advice and training.
Councillor Peter Gruen, chair of the Safer Leeds Board, said: "The BACIL programme is a proven way of protecting businesses from crime and making the city centre a safer place.
"It’s a fast and effective way of sharing information and ensures businesses are quickly alerted to crime and anti-social behaviour. The BACIL re-launch event is an ideal opportunity to find out more and discover how the programme can benefit and protect businesses in the future."
Get involved
The BACIL team is holding two re-launch events at The Loft on Cross New York Street on Tuesday, 22 February and Wednesday, 23 February.
The events will provide an opportunity for BACIL members to pick up their new digital radios and learn about how they work, and will also allow prospective new members to learn more about the scheme.
There will also be stalls from organisations including the City NPT, British Transport Police, the NHS, Leeds City Council, Safer Leeds, Pubwatch, the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Life Cycle and both university student unions.
Inspector Clarke said: “The re-launch event is the perfect opportunity for traders in the city who are keen to crack down on crime to get involved and learn of the many benefits the BACIL scheme can offer them.”
The event on Tuesday, 22 February, will run from 12pm to 7pm. The event on Wednesday, 23 February, will run from 9am to 7pm.
