Reducing business crime and its impact on local businesses is an important priority for the BID. Apart from the effective detection, apprehension and prosecution of offenders, we are taking measures to reduce the opportunities for criminal activity.
Harrow Town Centre BID in partnership with Metropolitan Police and the London Borough of Harrow have created the Harrow Business Against Crime partnership (HBAC) to represent Harrow Town Centre BID members operating in Harrow Town Centre.
Aims of the Harrow Business Against Crime Partnership are:
The legitimate and lawful gathering, collation, exchange and management of all relevant information relating to business crime and anti-social behaviour between business members
To reduce and prevent criminality and anti-social behaviour by reducing the opportunity to commit crime
To assist in the apprehension and prosecution of offenders and suspected offenders
To reduce the fear of crime and the effects of the fear of crime
To reduce members’ losses caused by crime and anti-social behaviour
To create a safe and secure environment for customers, staff and visitors and to contribute to the economic viability and prosperity of the town centre
To strengthen partnership working within the business community, police, local authority and other key agencies and organisations
To establish the partnership as an integral part of the local community safety and crime reduction strategy
To issue exclusion notices for the town centre
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE
We attend the quarterly meetings of the Safer Neighbourhoods Greenhill Ward Panel, where we discuss aspects of the town centre with police officers, councillors and local residents. We also attend the term-time monthly meetings of the Deputy Heads from Harrow schools and police officers.
We provide input to meetings of the borough’s Anti Social Behaviour Action Group where decisions are made about issuing Criminal Behaviour Orders and Community Protection Notices and we regularly ban troublesome youth and prolific shoplifters from the town.
We provide access to a secure offender database called DISC. Members must join HBAC (Harrow Business Against Crime), sign up to a code of practice in order to share images and information regarding shoplifters and individuals involved in crime in the town centre. The HBAC Board of Management regularly meet and issue banning notices to individuals who behave anti-socially.
Members can also receive a townlink radio, for a small monthly cost, which is linked to the police and Harrow CCTV control room. This enables businesses to alert others of potential ASB, shoplifters or emergency situations.
Harrow BID in partnership with Harrow Council is a sponsor of the Best Bar None scheme
Best Bar None is an Accreditation Scheme with National Awards supported by the Home Office and the drinks industry which is aimed primarily at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises.
The BID has trained staff members who inspect licensed premises and help to ensure our pubs and restaurants offer high standards of care to their customers and meet their legal responsibilities. Venues who pass the various social, welfare and health & safety checks receive accreditation plaques and each year awards are given to the best venues in various categories at an awards evening held locally.
Like our Facebook page for updates and information on the scheme
Is your business prepared??
Do you have a continuity plan should something in happen in your business or in the town centre?
Is your business continuity plan reviewed regularly and do your staff know what to do to, particularly if you are not in?
A business continuity plan is needed for the most likely risks to your business. Is a terrorist attack your main area of concern, or is it a loss of IT? How can you mitigate the negative effects on your business, premises and staff?
If your business does not have one, click below to download a template which you can modify to your particular needs.
Following on from the Continuity Plan above, The Property Flood Resilience Code of Practice, launched in February 2020 by the Property Flood Resilience Roundtable, provides practical guidance aimed at a range of audiences. We understand the importance of the Code of Practice and have created easy to implement suggestions to summarise and advise small businesses on how to prepare for flooding. Download the fact sheet below:
Harrow Council and Harrow BID have worked together to introduce a set of guidelines to help buskers, the public and businesses in Harrow Town Centre share the town for the benefit of all. We want to make Harrow a vibrant and fun place to visit, but not to the detriment of businesses, or causing annoyance to residents or passers by.
