“We want criminals to realise that they will be known within the new centre and to stay away.”

Steve Baker explains how Bradford’s successful crime busting initiative City Centre Beat (CCB) has thrown its protective cloak over the city’s new shopping centre, due to open tomorrow (THURS).

The partnership’s co-manager emphasises how The Broadway will reap the same benefits as its neighbour the Kirkgate Centre in embracing tried and tested measures that help to reduce shop theft, anti-social behaviour and other problems.

City Centre Beat (CCB) has more than 165 members throughout the city centre and adjoining areas. They attend regular briefings attended by the police, receive posters of prolific offenders and carry radios allowing them to communicate with each other, allowing them to warn each other should trouble arise. For those unable to attend the briefings, information is delivered on an intranet site and posters.

“The benefits of City Centre Beat is that its members know who the criminals are and can prevent them entering their premises,” says Steve. “We want to keep criminals out of The Broadway before they come in. They may believe that they will not be known to the new retailers and may try and enter.

“The whole ethos is to prevent rather than have to act later. Access to our intelligence helps to keep out troublemakers. We give members intelligence and we share intelligence.”

Already, several new-to-the-city shops have signed up to the partnership, including Debenhams, Superdry, Footasylum and Deichmann, as well as others who have relocated or are opening additional stores.

“We have others who have expressed an interest,” says Steve. “Since The Broadway began to take shape we have been introduced to the new centre manager and operations manager and have spent the past six weeks talking to retailers who have all been very positive. We have been giving presentations outlining the benefits of joining the partnership and how it can help to prevent crime.”

CCB intelligence coordinator Mark Plovie delivers briefings every Thursday in the CCB Kirkgate Centre base and in City Hall. From this week, a third venue has been introduced - The Broadway. "We are really pleased to be able to deliver briefings within the new centre," says Steve.

Members of CCB have access to an intranet site containing photographs and details of criminals, plus other initiatives including special Zero Crime days. “We have more intelligence and more briefings - it is all contributing to a reduction in crime,” says Steve.

Personal visits to members are also paid by CCB staff. “We are delivering posters at present, showing 120 regular offenders to watch out for. A well as computerised information, staff like to see the pictures on the wall as a constant reminder,” says Steve.

At present, in the run up to Christmas, businesses are being reminded to be extra vigilant.

The Broadway centre manager Sue Anderson-Brown expects more retailers to join CCB and reap the benefits, in addition to the work of the centre’s own security team which has undergone a high level of training. “We have a fantastic, well-trained security team and we are very much customer-service focused.”

“I am very passionate about prevention rather than cure and we will work together to drive down petty crime. CCB is about just that - working together with private business, retailers, the police and other key stakeholders across the city. It is a collaborative approach.”

A CCB board member, she adds: “It is about encouraging retailers in The Broadway to become members and become aware of the initiatives and briefings that are part of it.”

“Working together brings reassurance for people that The Broadway is committed to driving down crime and making the centre the safest environment for customers to enjoy their leisure time.”

CCB co-manager Steve Longbottom said the opening of The Broadway heralded a new chapter in CCB.

“We have new members joining every day and some of the retailers in the centre are already working with us and are familiar with offenders. The posters we have just issued contain images of people who are currently active and will be invaluable to retailers."

He adds: “The centre will attract many new people into Bradford, some who may not have visited previously. We work very closely with the Kirkgate Centre and will continue to do so along with The Broadway, to give everyone who comes to the city a good, safe, enjoyable shopping experience.”