Liverpool to host first major business crime conference this summer

Liverpool is set to welcome a major new conference this summer, bringing together key figures from retail, commerce, law enforcement, and government to tackle the growing issue of business crime.

Announced as part of Business Crime Reduction Awareness Week (17-23 March), the conference will create a focused strategy for businesses to work together in reducing crime across the city and beyond.

Business crime can cover a myriad of issues and offences, across a wide range of industries. It includes retail theft, vandalism and violence towards shop workers, diners leaving hospitality venues without paying, cyber crime, fraud and criminal damage.

The conference, organised by Liverpool BID Company will look at the growing rates of crime, the impact on business and the under-reporting of offences. It will also look at how government and local authorities can help to tackle the issue. 

Liverpool is one of 250 Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP) in the UK. The first awareness week, running until 23 March, showcases the holistic approach to business crime prevention and the work from different partners to make cities safer.

In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership sees Liverpool BID Company working alongside Merseyside Police, Liverpool Nightlife CIC and Liverpool City Council and most importantly the businesses themselves. On Wednesday 19 March there will be a drop in for businesses in Liverpool to find out more (details are available at https://liverpoolbidcompany.com/event/national-bcrp-awareness-week/) 

According to the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey, retailers have spent a record £1.8bn on crime prevention in one year (2024), up from £1.2bn the previous year. Across the UK there were just over 2,000 incidents of violence or abuse a day in stories across the country, up more than a third on the year before. 

Business Crime Reduction Awareness Week will see Merseyside Police, including the Liverpool BID police team, visit businesses across Liverpool city centre to explore how they can help to make  businesses safer.

Working together with city centre stakeholders, the teams will be working on a number of police initiatives, engaging with key members and providing expert advice and support, raising awareness of what a BCRP is and their part in it.

In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership includes two full time Merseyside Police officers who provide BID Levy Payers with a direct response to non-emergency enquiries about safety, crime prevention including cyber-crime, anti-social behaviour and security issues seven days a week; The DISC Intelligence Sharing Platform allows intelligence sharing across businesses in the city for both daytime and night-time economy businesses; Intelligence Sharing Briefings, which discuss safety issues across the BID; City Watch officers are is funded by the BID to monitor the Radio Link network on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday during retail hours, Friday and Saturday evenings/nights; The BID Radio Link Network has over 180 active digital radios operated by businesses themselves to provide reassurance and intelligence sharing, operating 24 hours a day. 

Shaun Holland, Director of Operations at Liverpool BID Company, said:

“We know that business crime is increasing, and is costing businesses millions each year to tackle it, but it is becoming increasingly important to focus on how we can work together to tackle it.

“Liverpool is one of the safest cities in the country, however we are not complacent and this is recognised through our work in Partnership with the statutory and voluntary sectors and is recognised by over twenty years of continuous accreditation with Purple Flag status. 

“In bringing different stakeholders together, we want to be able to create a route and a plan to reduce business crime. This Awareness Week we will start the ground work by helping to show businesses what options and support they have.”

Kirstie Stuart, Retail Risk Investigations Business Partner at River Island, said:

“Having a collective approach to crime reduction within the city centre allows for us to come together and identify issues as we work toward a collective goal of a safer Liverpool city centre. The support network I have built with other retailers has proved invaluable on occasions where we have been able to support each other.”

Jenna Mckenzie, Loss Prevention at TJ Morris, said:

“The main benefits of the BCRP is the team work that comes from working with various different companies with one aim at the end of it in the reduction of crime.

“I would encourage any business who is seeing a rise in crime in their businesses to join. It helps to know the offenders you are dealing with and helps with the whole process from start to finish. Other retailers might know an offender you don’t and vice versa, sharing the knowledge between everyone is power.”

John Hughes, Liverpool Nightlife CIC, said:

“Liverpool BID Safety Partnership provides an effective framework for businesses in the night time economy in dealing with crime prevention and safety.

“This partnership is a united front against crime and antisocial behaviour which creates a safer experience for the night time economy staff and visitors. Having this dedicated support on safety means the businesses can focus on delivering great hospitality for the city!

“I strongly encourage other businesses to engage with the Liverpool BID Safety Partnership because of the benefits it brings. Their hands-on approach to safety makes a real difference in protecting businesses and the wider community coming for a good night out in Liverpool!”

The first Business Crime Reduction Partnerships conference will take place in Liverpool on 10 June at Liverpool’s Hilton. Key stakeholders from city centres across the UK will convene to discuss the impact of crime in city centres.

Criminologist Professor Martin Gill CSyp FSyl and Director of Perpetuity Research who is one of the leading researchers into security and related issues will be speaking and leading the day at the conference. 

Confirmed speakers so far include Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emil Spurrell, Superintendent Martin Holdaway MBA MSyl, from the National Business Crime Centre, Paul Evans CEO Carlisle Support Services, Superintendent Charlotte Irlam, Business Crime lead Merseyside Police. Others to follow.

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