New Partnership Formed to Address Crime in Leeds City Centre

Businesses, police and council collaborate to improve safety

A new business-led partnership has been established in Leeds city centre to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. The initiative, known as the Leeds Business Crime Reduction Partnership (LeedsBCRP), brings together hundreds of city centre businesses with support from West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council.

The LeedsBCRP aims to create a coordinated response to crime by providing a live radio network and an intelligence portal. These tools will allow businesses to report incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour in real time, enabling faster action from the police and council.

Background and objectives

The partnership follows independent research commissioned by LeedsBID, which indicated that businesses sought more direct action on crime, improved communication about outcomes, and greater assurance that reporting incidents would lead to results.

New radio equipment and infrastructure, supplied by M.R.S. Communications, have already been installed, with training sessions for businesses planned for the summer. Two new appointments have been made to support the partnership: Tris Margison as LeedsBCRP Manager and Russ Pell as LeedsBCRP Co-ordinator. They will be supported by the wider LeedsBID team.

Statements from key figures

• Karen Butler, Director of Place, Engagement, & Safety, said: “Over 80% of BIDs across the country deliver BCRPs. Until now, that hasn’t been the case in Leeds. The aim with LeedsBCRP is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour as a partnership, collaborating across the city. This will involve the city’s businesses, police, council and ourselves all taking a role.”
• Superintendent Matt Scott of West Yorkshire Police commented: “Partnership really is the key word. Policing a large, complex city is never straightforward, and the drivers of crime and anti‑social behaviour are often complex as well. No single organisation can solve those issues on its own. If we want to reduce offending and, just as importantly, improve how safe the city feels, that must be done collaboratively. LeedsBCRP provides a vital platform for that – bringing together businesses, local authorities and policing to share information, identify patterns and risks early, embed best practice and coordinate our response.”
• Cllr Mary Harland, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Communities and Community Safety at Leeds City Council, said: “We are delighted to support the launch of the Leeds Business Crime Reduction Partnership and welcome the strengthening of the existing city centre community safety work this will bring. The initiative also aligns with the council’s ambitions supporting our wider work aimed at ensuring that Leeds city centre remains vibrant, inclusive and welcoming to all.”

Contact information

Businesses interested in joining or seeking more information can contact the partnership by telephone on 0113 467 2780 or by email at enquiries@leedsbcrp.co.uk.