Liverpool BID Safety Partnership – Business Crime Prevention Conference

Tuesday 10th June 2025, Organised by Liverpool BID Safety Partnership

Designed to make city centres safer for businesses and employees, there are over 250 Business Crime Reduction Partnerships in the UK. In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership sees Liverpool BID Company working alongside Merseyside Police, Liverpool Nightlife CIC and Liverpool City Council to help keep the city safe.

The BID have been awarded a National Standards Accreditation and has been described as an “outstanding example” of how partners can work together to make cities safer.

This national standards accreditation provides a benchmark of achievement and success, helping to give reassurance to businesses, police and other stakeholders and importantly those visiting the City Centre, that the partnership is working and provides good value for money.

In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership includes:

  • two full-time Merseyside Police officers who provide BID Levy Payers with a direct response to non-emergency enquiries about safety, anti-social behaviour and security issues seven days a week
  • The DISC Intelligence Sharing Platform which allows intelligence sharing across businesses in the city centre for both daytime and night-time economy businesses; Intelligence Sharing Briefings, which discuss safety issues across the BID
  • A City Watch officer funded by the BID to monitor the Radio Link network on Thursdays during retail hours and Friday and Saturday evenings/nights and The BID Radio Link Network, which has over 180 active digital radios operated by businesses themselves to provide reassurance and intelligence sharing, operating 24 hours a day.

Moderated by Professor Martin Gill, Perpetuity Research

Professor Martin Gill is a criminologist and Director of Perpetuity Research which started life as a spin out company from the University of Leicester. He holds honorary/visiting Chairs at the Universities of Leicester and London. Martin has been actively involved in a range of studies relating to different aspects of security, private policing and business crime on topics including: organised crime and fraud; why offenders offend; the (in)effectiveness of different security measures; and the scope of security management. Martin has been extensively involved with evaluation research and with the offender’s perspective looking at how they target certain people and premises and aim to circumvent security measures.

He has published 14 books and recently completed the third edition of the ‘Handbook’ of Security’. He is the organiser and Chair of the Security Thought Leadership webinar series. Martin is a Fellow of The Security Institute, a member of the Company of Security Professionals (and a Freeman of the City of London). He is a Trustee of the ASIS Foundation.

In 2002 the ASIS Security Foundation made a ‘citation for distinguished service’ in ‘recognition of his significant contribution to the security profession’. In 2009 he was one of the country’s top 5 most quoted criminologists. In 2010 he was recognised by the BSIA with a special award for ‘outstanding service to the security sector’. In 2015 and 2016 he was nominated and shortlisted for the Imbert Prize at the Association of Security Consultants and in the latter he won. In 2016 ASIS International awarded him a Presidential Order of Merit for distinguished service. In annual IFSEC listings he is regularly recorded as one of the world’s most influential fire and security expert. In 2016 he was entered onto the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.

Martin is the Founder of the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs and Cyber OSPAs), the Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs), the Fire Resilience Excellence Awards (FREAs), the Security and Safety Entrepreneur Awards (SSEAs) and the Workplace Violence Reduction Awards (WVRAS).

Panel 1: Business Crime: understanding the context

Theme: The context to tackling business crime

  1. Current National Trends in Business Crime
    • Organized retail crime, cybercrime, fraud, and insider threats.
    • Impact on supply chains and national economic resilience.
  1. Cybersecurity & National Threats to Businesses
    • National infrastructure protection and business vulnerabilities.
    • Role of public-private partnerships in combating digital threats.
  1. Legislation and Policy Effectiveness
    • Review of current laws on fraud, cybercrime, and organised retail theft.
    • Are businesses and authorities aligned on needed reforms?
  1. Funding and Resource Allocation Challenges
    • How to prioritise business crime compared to other policing needs.
    • Business investment; barriers and opportunities?

Patrick Holdaway – Superintendent, National Business Crime Centre

Superintendent Patrick Holdaway, from the City of London Police, has led the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) since December 2018. Prior to that Patrick was the business crime lead in Hampshire Constabulary where he spent 26 years prior to transferring to the City of London Police in 2021.

During this time Patrick has worked across policing and government to raise the issues that affect business, developing and sharing best practice to prevent violence and tackle organised crime. Through Patrick’s leadership the NBCC has been formally recognised on a number of occasions for its work supporting policing, private security and the retail and transport sectors.

DI Dan Giannasi – Detective Inspector North West Cyber Resilience Centre

Dan has 18 years of experience in digital and cyber-crime with Greater Manchester Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU). Dan leads the North West Cyber Resilience Centre in its mission to build resilience in small and medium-sized organisations across the North West and make it one of the safest places to do business.

Sophie Jordan – CEO, National Association of Business Crime Partnerships

Sophie is responsible for the day-to-day management of the NABCP, supporting and advising BCRP Managers by sharing best practices, policies, and guidance on all issues relating to Business Crime Reduction. Her role also involves representing the views of these managers at the National level, engaging with valued partners such as the Police, Home Office, Retailers, Security Companies, and many more.

Sophie is an active participant in several Home Office groups, including The Retail Crime Forum with the Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, and the BCRP National Standards Accreditation Board. Since 2017, Sophie has been an Assessor of the BCRP National Standards and has conducted over 100 assessments in that time.

Passionate about partnership working, Sophie is dedicated to sharing best practices and encourages Crime Managers to take part in additional project work to address issues in their local areas, resulting in truly exceptional BCRPs across the UK.

Andrew Sharman – Founder, South West Business Crime Centre

Andrew is a trusted independent voice in the world of business crime reduction.

In his career, spanning 20 years, he has supported a wide range of BIDs, BCRPs, police, councils, and PCCs to create meaningful partnerships that deliver positive outcomes for all.

He has supported the creation of BCRPs in Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, and Stockton on Tees.

His view that safety and security are the bedrocks of placemaking are the driving force behind his work.

Panel 2: Partnership working: from theory to reality

Theme: Working with others is presented as an unqualified good, but what factors act as barriers and how can they be overcome

Topics:

  1. Regional Police and Business Collaboration Models
  1. Best practices for Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRPs).
  2. How regional intelligence hubs and business networks can improve prevention.
  1. Interagency Coordination & Intelligence Sharing
  1. How national police forces, security firms, and industry coalitions collaborate.
  2. Challenges in centralising data, sharing and response.
  1. Role of Private Security; getting the best service
    • Licensing, training consistency, and joint operations with police.
  • Addressing Duplication of Effort or Gaps in Coverage
    • Realistic expectations for response and deterrence.
    • Creative local patrol models and community wardens.

Emily Spurrell – Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Merseyside

Emily is in her second term as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Merseyside. She was first elected in May 2021 and re-elected in May 2024 with 61.7% of the public vote.

As PCC, Emily has prioritised preventing crime, tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), improving police scrutiny and transparency, and supporting victims of crime.

These are encapsulated in Emily’s Police and Crime Plan for the region, which focuses on three key pillars:

• Fighting Crime; Proactive Policing.

• Supporting Victims; Safer Communities.

• Driving Change; Prevent Offending.

Emily is committed to being a visible and proactive PCC, who is dedicated to connecting with local people and fighting for greater resources and investment for our region. In her first term of office, she secured more than £14m of additional funding for the region.

To ensure she represents the voices of residents across Merseyside, she holds monthly Advice Surgeries and livestreams her public Scrutiny Meetings which include questions from the public and independent members.

Emily was elected as Chair of the Association of PCCs (APCC) in September 2024. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA).

Prior to being elected, Emily was Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner from September 2017 to March 2019 leading on the victims’ portfolio. She also served as a Liverpool City Councillor between 2012 and 2021, taking the lead for Community Safety from 2014 onwards.

Paul Evans – Chief Executive Officer, Carlisle Support Services

Paul has over twenty years of experience in facilities management, leading initiatives that aim to improve the security industry. He focuses on enhancing standards and promoting ethical labour practices through Carlisle’s association with organisations such as the City Security Council and The Security Institute. As a key figure in the national dialogue on the Integrated Policing and Private Security (IPPS) initiative between UK Policing and the Private Security Industry, Paul will provide valuable insights into how this movement can foster safer and more secure environments.

Panel 3: What works in Crime Prevention

Theme: Practical Solutions for Protecting Local Businesses

Topics:

1.    The potential of AI

  • Technology and Practical Security Measures for SMEs
  1. Affordable tech for local stores: alarms, access control, panic buttons.
  • Working with Landlords or Local Authorities to Improve Physical Security
  1. Regional CCTV systems, data analytics, and AI-powered monitoring.
  2. Balancing privacy and effectiveness in shared surveillance systems.
  • Engaging the Community in Business Crime Prevention
  1. Role of councils, BID (Business Improvement Districts), and neighbourhood watch.
  2. Educating staff and customers to be vigilant and report incidents.
  1. Crime Prevention Campaigns and Their Reach (BCRPs)
    • Evaluating the role of awareness and deterrence programs.
    • The value of national business crime data collection and analysis. 
  1. The Role of Visibility in Crime Prevention
    • Benefits and challenges of hot-spot policing and private security.

Shaun Holland – Director of Operations – Liverpool BID Company

Shaun Holland joined the Liverpool BID Company as Head of Operations in 2016, after 30 years with the Met and Merseyside police.

Among other responsibilities he heads up the company’s environmental and safety activities, of which its crime reduction scheme is key.

Charlotte Irlam – Neighbourhood Superintendent, Force Lead for Retail and Business Crime, Merseyside Police

Charlotte is the Neighbourhood Superintendent for Liverpool South and the city centre as well as the Force lead for retail and business crime for Merseyside Police. Charlotte also currently chairs the City Centre Joint Agency Group.

Having been a police officer for over 18 years, working in Liverpool for nearly 6 years, Charlotte has been involved, in her role as a Public Order Commander, in many high-profile events in the city such victory parades, Eurovision song contest and political conferences.

Having grown up locally, Charlotte is proud and passionate about working together with partners to deliver the best possible service to our communities in Merseyside.

Mark Morgan – Business Manager, Licensing Security & Vulnerability Initiative

Mark completed 30 years as a police officer in both the Metropolitan and Merseyside Police, having led licensing teams, instigating numerous pro-active work streams to tackle violence, thefts, alcohol related harm, vulnerability and drugs misuse.  Mark now works for Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, on their Licensing SAVI scheme which brings together information and advice from responsible authorities and industry experts on effective management practices and operational security, as well as practical examples, into a digital platform being uniquely placed to deliver a joined-up and consistent approach to creating safe and secure licensed premises across England and Wales.

More Speakers to be announced

Liverpool is one of 250 Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BRCP) in the UK. The first awareness week, running until 23 March, showcases the holistic approach to business crime prevention and the work from different partners to make cities safer. In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership sees Liverpool BID Company working alongside Merseyside Police, Liverpool Nightlife CIC and Liverpool City Council and most importantly the businesses themselves. On Wednesday 19th March there will be a drop in for businesses in Liverpool to find out more (details are available athttps://liverpoolbidcompany.com/event/national-bcrp-awareness-week/) 

According to the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey, retailers have spent a record £1.8bn on crime prevention in one year (2024), up from £1.2bn the previous year. Across the UK there were just over 2,000 incidents of violence or abuse a day in stories across the country, up more than a third on the year before. 

The Awareness Week will see Merseyside Police, including the Liverpool BID police team, visit businesses across Liverpool city centre to explore how they can help to make  businesses safer. Working together with city centre stakeholders, the teams will be working on a number of police initiatives, engaging with key members and providing expert advice and support, raising awareness of what a BCRP is and their part in it.

In Liverpool, the BID Safety Partnership includes two full time Merseyside Police officers who provide BID Levy Payers with a direct response to non-emergency enquiries about safety, crime prevention including cyber-crime, anti-social behaviour and security issues seven days a week; The DISC Intelligence Sharing Platform allows intelligence sharing across businesses in the city for both daytime and night-time economy businesses; Intelligence Sharing Briefings, which discuss safety issues across the BID; City Watch officers are is funded by the BID to monitor the Radio Link network on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday during retail hours, Friday and Saturday evenings/nights; The BID Radio Link Network has over 180 active digital radios operated by businesses themselves to provide reassurance and intelligence sharing, operating 24 hours a day. 

Shaun Holland is Director of Operations at Liverpool BID Company 

“We know that business crime is increasing, and is costing businesses millions each year to tackle it, but it is becoming increasingly important to focus on how we can work together to tackle it. Liverpool is one of the safest cities in the country, however we are not complacent and this is recognised through our work in Partnership with the statutory and voluntary sectors and is recognised by over twenty years of continuous accreditation with Purple Flag status. 

In bringing different stakeholders together, we want to be able to create a route and a plan to reduce business crime. This Awareness Week we will start the ground work by helping to show businesses what options and support they have.”

Kirstie Stuart is the Retail Risk Investigations Business Partner at River Island

“Having a collective approach to crime reduction within the city centre allows for us to come together and identify issues as we work toward a collective goal of a safer Liverpool city centre. The support network I have built with other retailers has proved invaluable on occasions where we have been able to support each other.”

Jenna Mckenzie is in charge of Loss Prevention at TJ Morris

“The main benefits of the BCRP is the team work that comes from working with various different companies with one aim at the end of it in the reduction of crime. I would encourage any business who is seeing a rise in crime in their businesses to join. It helps to know the offenders you are dealing with and helps with the whole process from start to finish. Other retailers might know an offender you don’t and vice versa, sharing the knowledge between everyone is power.”

John Hughes is from Liverpool Nightlife CIC 

“Liverpool BID Safety Partnership provides an effective framework for businesses in the night time economy in dealing with crime prevention and safety. This partnership is a united front against crime and antisocial behaviour which creates a safer experience for the night time economy staff and visitors. Having this dedicated support on safety means the businesses can focus on delivering great hospitality for the city!

I strongly encourage other businesses to engage with the Liverpool BID Safety Partnership because of the benefits it brings. Their hands-on approach to safety makes a real difference in protecting businesses and the wider community coming for a good night out in Liverpool!”

The first BRCP conference will take place in Liverpool on 10th June at Liverpool’s Hilton. Key stakeholders from city centres across the UK will convene to discuss the impact of crime in city centres. Criminologist Professor Martin Gill CSyp FSyl and Director of Perpetuity Research who is one of the leading researchers into security and related issues will be speaking and leading the day at the conference. 

Confirmed speakers so far include Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emil Spurrell, Superintendent Martin Holdaway MBA MSyl, from the National Business Crime Centre, Paul Evans CEO Carlisle Support Services, Superintendent Charlotte Irlam, Business Crime lead Merseyside Police. Others to follow.

Find out more on the BID Safety Partnership