Safer city

Supporting a Safer, Cleaner City Centre

We recognise the need for real security improvements to make our streets safer. Government budget cuts, reduced policing numbers, increased anti-social behaviour, and shifting policing priorities have left our city centre communities vulnerable to economic downturns that can quickly lead to urban decline.

Street Team initiatives

  • Cleaning services: Our street team supports businesses with additional cleaning in areas affected by graffiti, rough sleeper detritus, sharps, and other hazardous waste.
  • Reporting and intelligence: The team acts as the BID's "eyes and ears" on the street, identifying and reporting environmental issues and anti-social behaviours to the relevant agencies, sharing intelligence with the neighbourhood police team, and helping to connect rough sleepers with the right support.

Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP)

The BCRP is managed by Sheffield City Council and led by the Council’s Monitoring Centre and Business Crime Reduction team. Sheffield BID is a member of this established multi-agency partnership.

  • Radio scheme: The BCRP’s radio network has proven to be an effective tool for preventing crime and shoplifting. The radio scheme is a subscription service provided by Sheffield City Council. BID funding has ensured the network is now fully digital.
  • Data sharing: Through the BCRP, Sheffield BID also contributes to the National Business Crime Solutions (NBCS) membership, enabling effective data sharing between agencies to reduce crime and risks.

Promoting best practices in place management

  • Best Bar None: We collaborate with businesses in the night-time economy to deliver Best Bar None, a government scheme promoting safe and responsible licensing practices in city centre venues.
  • Purple Flag: Sheffield BID, South Yorkshire Police, and Sheffield City Council work with local businesses to maintain the city centre’s Purple Flag status, recognizing excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy.
  • Safe Square: We fund this seasonal initiative, which provides medical and welfare assistance to anyone on a night out in the city centre.

Supporting charities and addressing homelessness

  • Help Us Help campaign: The BID supports this campaign, raising awareness of support services and helping people make informed decisions about assisting vulnerable individuals with complex needs.
  • Employment initiatives: We have partnered with charities to create paid employment for former rough sleepers, improving their employability and quality of life, and providing a sustainable route out of homelessness.
  • Raising money: We have helped raise funds for the Roundabout charity which supports youth homelessness and the Street Pastors who help vulnerable revellers on a night out.

Assisting businesses affected by vagrancy

  • Rough Sleeper patrols: South Yorkshire Police provides a discretionary rough sleeper patrol to check on individuals' welfare and limit the impact of vagrancy on businesses.
  • Sanitation services: Our street team follows up with cleansing and sanitation services, addressing locations regularly affected by rough sleeper detritus and hazardous waste.

Building business resilience

  • Major incidents: Our training courses include anti-terror and major-incident training through Project Argus and Project Griffin. These sessions help businesses understand the threat from terrorism and consider security measures.
  • Conflict management and personal safety: Training delivered by a former police chief is specifically designed for frontline staff dealing with individuals with chaotic lifestyles and unpredictable behaviours.
  • Management training: We have developed training sessions for management teams on strategies and tactics to minimise and mitigate the threat of conflicts.

Additional security measures

  • Mobile cameras: High-tech mobile cameras have been used to monitor hot spots and deter anti-social behaviour.
  • SmartWater®: A traceable liquid issued to selected night-time premises, used as a deterrent for serious offenses.
  • Security advice: Crime Prevention Officers provide advice to prevent criminal damage and design out crime.
  • Graffiti prevention: Initiatives like Bag-a-tagger, launched in partnership with Crime Stoppers, aim to reduce graffiti vandalism and seek financial restitution from offenders.

Coordinated police operations

  • The BID team participates in operations like Project Servator, which aims to disrupt criminal activities while providing a reassuring presence. Intelligence from local businesses often informs these operations.

Life-saving equipment

  • Defibrillators: Installation of 13 outdoor defibrillators through the Pulse Points initiative.
  • Bleed control cabinets: Collaboration with the Daniel Baird Foundation and night-time economy leaders to install 12 emergency bleed control cabinets across the city centre.

Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)

Following a period of lobbying and influence from the BID and our members, a new Public Spaces Protection Order will be implemented in Sheffield City Centre to confront anti-social behaviours. The PSPO will be active from 1 April 2025 for a period of three years.

Reporting and useful contacts

  • BCRP and radio system: Rob Cowley, Business Crime Manager at Sheffield City Council. Email: rob.cowley@sheffield.gov.uk  or telephone 0114 474 1712.
  • ASB and Community Safety teams: ASB@sheffield.gov.uk and commsafety@sheffield.gov.uk
  • Neighbourhood Police team: SheffieldCityCentreNPT@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
  • Council city centre ambassadors: 7 days a week (excluding bank holidays). Monday to Saturday: 07:30 – 20:00 Sunday: 07:30 – 18:00 Contact:  0114 2736895 (Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00) or 07736 477122 (operational hours).
  • Rough Sleepers: Concerns about people sleeping rough can be reported to the Sheffield Street Outreach Team via Street Link – telephone 0800 066 5358 or text SOTS to 80800. More information about the charities who support people on the streets can be found at www.helpushelpsheffield.uk.
  • Graffiti:
    • Taggers and vandalism: If you know who is adding the graffiti, please call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
    • Graffiti on Highways infrastructure and Public Realm: Report to Sheffield City Council: Report graffiti | Sheffield City Council
    • Graffiti on commercial premises: Report as a crime via 101 so that it can be investigated. If your business is a member of the Council’s radio network, the DISC reporting system also enables you to submit a report to help the BCRP maintain a body of evidence for future prosecutions. Sheffield BID also reports all graffiti in this way.
    • Removal of graffiti and cleaning of detritus: Request from Sheffield BID at operations@sheffieldbid.com