New organisation aimed with reducing business crime across Yorkshire to be announced at September Summit.
Those attending the first Yorkshire Night Economy Summit this week are set to have the first glance at the newest initiative designed to help reduced business crime across Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Business Crime Network (YBCN) marks a new era in collaboratively tackling crime impacting both day and evening trading across both Bradford and the wider region.
The new initiative builds on the foundation work undertaken by Bradford at Night and other local stakeholders that have ultimately contributed to provide a level of support to businesses that have experienced the daily challenges such as antisocial behaviour, theft and in some cases violence.
Sean Walker, brought in to lead the initiative by the leadership team at Bradford at Night has promised ‘actions will be loud and the results will be heard and seen’. He accepts the task has proved problematic in the past. But after having over 30 years’ experience in frontline policing and an additional 15 years’ coordinating Leeds based ‘Business Against Crime in Leeds’ (BACIL), he insists he is up for the challenge of supporting both Bradford and the wider region tackle the issues businesses face everyday.
“It’s not about what one organisation is doing to help, we’re all here contributing to the wider cause, I want YBCN to demonstrate first hand what strong collaboration can achieve with a common interest. Anyone that knows me will know I’m a man of very strong moral values. I’m not a person who lowers his expectations. What we say we will do, we will do”
Since arriving from BACIL, Sean has brought with him a strong yet simple ethos for the regions new network ‘Providing a strong, honest voice to combat business crime for towns and cities across Yorkshire’ and his first full opportunity to explain the new ethos will come when he launches the new branding, vision and aims at Septembers Night Economy Summit on the 18th September in Bradford City Centre’s Midland Hotel.
“We want every member of the network to feel that they’ve signed up to something worthwhile, something modern, consistent, and reliable that promotes strong engagement and collaboration across neighbouring businesses and wider districts. Our aim is to do all we can to enable all businesses in the day and night trade to achieve the highest outcomes possible.”
YBCN will harness the most advanced systems available, including a fully encrypted push-over cellular radio network, using the latest tech, ensuring secure and instant communication among members. Utilising Shop Safe Alert software will enable real-time collation and dissemination of incidents and intelligence, turning data into actionable insights. By operating on a Yorkshire-wide scale, YBCN will effectively monitor and respond to the activities of travelling criminals and organised gangs, who pose a significant threat to retail and other businesses. The network will deliver timely intelligence that can disrupt criminal operations and protect our members from theft, fraud, and violence.
The network is already making its mark since being rolled out in Birstall Retail Park, Guiseley's Westside Retail Park and partners such as Huddersfield Business Improvement district looking to take on the scheme for it's members with other BID's enquiring to introduce it to their areas
Membership is open to all Yorkshire based businesses, both day and night trading and will receive tailored support for their needs. For more information on joining, contact info@ybcn.co.uk
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