Recorded crime is down 6.1% compared to last year and down 1.9% compared to the five-year average.
Protecting
Spend: £62,783 - 9% of Total BID Project Budget
Protecting customers, staff and businesses is of vital importance for a thriving city centre. The Edinburgh Visitor Survey again highlighted the success of our innovative partnerships with 87% of people feeling safer in the BID area than elsewhere in the city. BID Cop Our ground-breaking partnership with Police Scotland provides an enhanced police presence and active support for our businesses through PC Leo Baker. PC Baker regularly visits BID businesses to offer advice, support and training. Between July 2019 and February 2020, Leo visited 231 businesses, an increase of 36% on last year. In addition, he has had email or telephone correspondence with 158 businesses and has provided nine “Hard Target” courses for retailers, training 68 staff members to minimise shoplifting opportunities within BID businesses.
Complemented by our Check Out communication system, linking over 165 retailers with the Police, our joined-up approach continues to deliver real results in reducing retail crime. Due to national lockdown in March, bike marking events were unable to take place through the spring and early summer. However, two marking events were able to take place in this reporting year, helping to address the growing issues around cycle theft. PC Baker marked and added 17 bikes to the national register, helping speed up reuniting stolen bicycles with their owners. NB: Crime figures reported by Police Scotland are for the reporting year – 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020. Crime figures are for the whole City Centre Ward area. Reported crimes included are: Serious Assault, Housebreaking to a business, Robbery, Vandalism, Common Assault and the total of these five areas, with a five-year average. ESSENTIAL EDINBURGH Annual Review 2019-20 | 26
