Radio link unites businesses against crime and disorder

Community Champions in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) area have been recognised for their contribution to a partnership radio link scheme introduced by the Covent Garden and Strand Business Partnership to tackle crime in London’s West End.

Certificates were presented to local businesses which had been instrumental in setting up of the scheme and which had achieved recent successes, including actions that led to the arrests of four people connected with organised criminality at a designer store.

The partnership’s radio link has also helped stop public disorder, reunited a child with her guardians and assisted in the arrest of a man for attempted robbery.

Superintendent Steve Osborn, responsible for policing in the West End, said: “The Covent Garden and Strand Business Partnership is a great example of how businesses can be galvanised by the radio link system. A business community is established to support each other, fight crime and disorder and improve the environment for everyone. Strong links to police, security and council are formed and those key agencies are readily accessible through radio link. It’s a perfect form of partnership working; the sum is greater than the parts, as the success stories of using radio link demonstrate.”

The partnership is part of the Safer West End Business Partnership, an umbrella organisation that coordinates and administers the SaferSoho Business Partnership and the Covent Garden and The Strand Business Partnership. The scheme has been praised for its collaborative work with the local business community, the MPS and Westminster City Council, and offers members the chance to help reduce shoplifting, theft, alcohol-related disorder and other anti-social behaviour affecting their business.

Sergeant William Hodgkinson, who manages the Covent Garden Strand Business Partnership, said: “This is a fantastic tool to unite the community and share resources. Where security guards and CCTV is effective, connecting businesses to other partners, the local police and council ensures that we fight crime and anti-social behaviour as one. The partnership has not been running long and yet we have already seen a number of fantastic results. It’s a perfect form of partnership working – the sum is greater than the parts.”

An intranet site is to be set up that will allow partners to share information and images of suspects, submit posts and upload documents. The site will also allow users to see the anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) granted under Operation Trafalgar – Westminster Police’s initiative to make the West End safer and more enjoyable.

Fifty businesses have signed up for the scheme since its launch in August and this number is expected to grow, further strengthening connections among the business community and providing closer links with the police and local authority.