BID funds police patrols

Two police officers dedicated to working in the Business Improvement District within Liverpool city centre will today start patrols funded by the BID.

The Liverpool BID Company has agreed to provide funding to Merseyside Police in order to create a dedicated BID Police team, said to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The new team will consist of two officers who will work directly with the BID Company with a brief to address city centre issues such as aggressive beggars, antisocial behaviour and retail crime.

Businesses will be able to raise issues with the BID Team who will pass them directly to the officers. They will be on duty each day of the week.

Liverpool BID Company is paying Merseyside Police £70,000 a year for the two officers.

The posts have been created following a review of the BID Company’s safety programme and will ensure that the officers are aware of local issues affecting the BID area, as part of the forces commitment to neighbourhood policing.

This is one part of the review which has been carried out and will allow businesses reassurance and continuity.

Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, said: “Liverpool city centre is one of the safest in the UK but there is always room for improvement.

“After a thorough review with partners and businesses it was clear we needed to provide a service that was more responsive and made better use of the technologies available.

“The new BID Police Patrol together with other measures we are adopting will give businesses in the BID District a quicker and more efficient service, with the ability to record and report anti-social and criminal issues.’’

Superintendent Mark Wiggins of Merseyside Police said: “We have had a good working relationship with the BID for a number of years now. These officers will be additional to those who police the city centre every day from our neighbourhood team.

“They will be there to form even more effective working relationships with the business community and retailers and deal with the issues that most affect them and the public to ensure that Liverpool city centre continues to maintain its excellent reputation.”