Security initiative launched to improve safety on Liverpool’s streets
Liverpool BID Company have launched the first of a series of support measures to improve safety for its BID businesses, their customers and visitors during evenings in the city.
The BID has agreed to fund extra security staff to work with and alongside Liverpool City Council’s City Watch team, within the council’s CCTV control room.
Their role will be to monitor the BID areas in and around Bold Street, Church Street, Williamson Square, the Cavern Quarter, Castle Street and Old Hall Street. They will work closely with security staff at bars, clubs and restaurants to react to issues during the busier night-time periods from Thursday to Saturday.
The company has also invested in a new ENTE (evening and night-time economy) Radio Link system, which will allow businesses to be linked up and communicate with the BID funded staff at City Watch, enabling camera support when an incident breaks out, allowing the incident to be recorded and the appropriate response provided.
New ENTE security briefing meetings will also be launched in September, allowing businesses to share intelligence and issues related to safety.
These new projects are part of a number of safety and environment initiatives that allowed Liverpool BID Company to negotiate a full exemption on the council’s Late-Night Levy for its BID businesses in Liverpool city centre. All premises in Liverpool licensed to supply alcohol at any time between midnight and 6am are required to pay the charge.
Mike Edwards, area manager, Pub Invest Group, who operator several bars and clubs in the city centre, including Sgt Peppers, McCooley’s, Rubber Soul, Heaven, Blind Tiger and Level, said: “The new initiatives will help to improve the communication between all the premises within the area and the local stakeholders to make the area safer which is a great improvement.
“The support that we currently get from the BID, Merseyside Police and Liverpool Council City is fantastic; by improving this communication with the new radio system and the link with City Watch everything will run much more smoothly and will give people a safe and enjoyable night out.”
The new BID officer will be contracted through the council’s security provider, Carlisle Security, to work from the City Watch Control Room. They will specifically listen to the radio communications of the bars, clubs and other late night venues, Thursday-Saturday, 9pm-5am.
Incidents will be logged at the time and where possible monitored by the CCTV staff, and intelligence will be passed to the blue light services and other partner agencies where appropriate.
Bill Addy, chief executive, Liverpool BID Company, said: “Keeping our streets safe day and night for our businesses and visitors is a top priority of Liverpool BID Company. We are always listening to our levy payers, and one of their high concerns is safety, which we feel these new initiatives will address tenfold.
“The additional support this new member of staff will provide to the city council’s already fantastic City Watch programme will be immeasurable, while the added Radio Link system will allow our ENTE businesses to be linked up and to communicate with City Watch and maximise the response, making our areas a safer place to visit, and to work in.
“We have already seen great successes from the daytime retail Radio Link, which this will replicate.”
