GO! Southampton crime prevention scheme wins award

Published by

Sam Pither

A GO! Southampton crime prevention scheme which has recovered more than £230,000 of stolen stock has received an award.

The Southampton Business Crime Partnership (SBCP) scheme picked up the ‘Outstanding Partnership’ award at the Town & City Management Industry Awards (ATCM) 2022, which were held in Cardiff on 21 June.

The Southampton Business Investment District scheme, which launched in 2020, connects Southampton’s diurnal and nocturnal economies, the police, the council and other important partners to share crime intelligence and collaborate against anti-social behaviour.

Through the use of a crime-reporting portal, radio, and a security team, business and the police build cases against prolific offenders in the city. The work has resulted in the recovery of more than £231,000 in stock since the scheme was launched.

The scheme is not just punitive, however, as it also looks to rehabilitate repeat offenders, cutting down on crime in the long term at the same time as it invests in the city’s citizenry.

Last year the SBCP was accredited against the National Business Crime Partnership standard, the only official quality check against Business Crime Reduction Partnerships and other business led crime initiatives in the UK.

The assessment covers governance, partnership benefits, aims and objectives, communications, systems and procedures and data integrity.

Stephen Manion, Executive Director at GO! Southampton said: “I am very proud of the GO! Southampton team with this fantastic national recognition by the ATCM of the amazing and often unseen work done by the many partners, working together across the city, who have achieved a real improvement in making Southampton a safer place to live, work and visit.

“This is only a step on our journey and we will continue to build on the success of the Business Crime Partnership to attract people into the city centre during the daytime and for the vibrant entertainment and leisure venues of our evening and night-time.”

The Awards evening in Cardiff formed part of the ATCM Summer School 2022, a two-day event bringing business investment districts, local authorities and other ATCM members together to learn, discuss and draw insights from place management leaders through panel debates, talks and interactive workshops.

This year’s theme, high streets versus the industrial revolution, set the tone of the event, with the effects of the pandemic, the move towards digital, the possible future recession and how town and cities can shape the future of the high street leading the debates.

Ojay McDonald, Chief Executive, Association of Town and City Management said, “GO! Southampton's award is the product of excellent partnership development which has practical implications for creating a safe and enjoyable city.

“The BID is a driving force in the City Engagement and Action Group and is shaping targeted support to individuals. This partnership demonstrates a solid, strong collaborative approach which other cities can learn from.”

Featured image credit: Mr Ladd Media

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.