WORCESTER BID ANNUAL REPORT 2015 / 16
9
‘TheStoreDetective plays
a crucial role in providing
the link between ourselves
and theBID businesses.
Their knowledge of the
known offenders and the
techniques used plays a
part in helpingWorcester
be the safest place to live
in England.’*
Inspector GerrySmith
WestMerciaPolice
*Source: Provident Personal Credit’s
UnbrokenBritainSurvey 2016
z
Our experiencedBID
Street Rangers continued
to operate between 9am
and 5.30pmMonday toSaturday
and have beenworking since theBID
started inApril 2010 to act as the eyes and ears of theBID and liaisewith
businesses, report any damage ormesswhich requires urgent attention,
meet and greet coacheswith visitors to the city and carry out high visibility
foot patrolswith the aim of improving the visitor experience through
excellent customer service.
z
Taxi Marshals have alsobeen in operation sinceApril 2010, operating at the
taxi rank in TheCross every Saturday night between 10.30pm and4.30am
onSundaymorning aswell additional nights during Freshers’Week and in
the run up toChristmas.
z
We have freemembership of CityNet andNightsafe anti-crime groups
for 100 (up 4%) businesses for CityNet and56 for Nightsafe. TheHead
ofWorcester BID is on theNightsafeCommittee and is on a subgroup
looking at Best Bar NoneAccreditation for licensedpremises to help raise
standardswithin the night time economy.
z
TheCrimeReductionManager andAdministrator have providedbusiness
crime advice, support and custommade training on 208occasionswith
businesses and co-ordinated 49CityNetmembersmeetings towhich any
CityNetmember is invited. The total number of incidents reported via the
CityNet radiowas 3,405 (4,864 in 2014/15) and therewere 1,082 thefts and
fraud involving retail premises during the year comparedwith 1,355over the
previous 12months.
z
Apart time dedicated store detective funded through theBID has been
involved in 162 incidents of retail stock loss and recovered at least £5,860
in stolen goods in 2015/16. The detection rate for incidents relating to
CityNetmemberswas 93% (up 1% on last year), and just 30% (down 2%
on 2014/15) for non-members, thus proving the value of membership.
z
TheBID team continue tobe involved in TeamWorcester, an initiativewhich
involves partners such as thePolice, Civil Enforcement Officers amongst
others towork closer together to resolve issuesmore efficiently and
effectively.
z
Due to lack of interest and usage amongst the licensees, Pubwatch online is
no longer used inWorcester city centre.
