The BACIL awards have been an yearly event for members of the group since 2014. As stated on their website BACIL “unites local businesses with a shared goal to prevent and reduce criminality and anti-social behaviour on our streets. By working together and sharing information, we help prevent crime to create a safe city-centre in which to live, work and play.”
Members of BACIL are provided with resources like crime reports in their area and training to prevent unsociable or criminal activity in their places of business. The organisation is made up of 420 members and was made to actively reduce the crime rate. BACIL works closely with Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police Department to create strategies to reduce crime in the city centre.
BACIL claims that there has been a significant reduction in business crime since it was founded.
St. John’s is home to 28 popular shops and restaurants including HMV, Card Factory, and McDonalds. Security is very important to the centre, considering both customers and the shops when assessing what needs to be done to protect the shopping centre as a whole.
Soft Service Manager for the centre, Mr Steve Burns was asked about why St. John’s was chosen to win the award said: “We hosted over 50% of the BACIL weekly meetings on site; we interacted regularly with the local police – pulling together reports and evidence to support in the arrest of known offenders resulting in banning orders from Leeds City Centre, ultimately making for a safer shopping environment.”
When asked about what the award meant to the team Mr Burns said: “It means so much, the whole team were absolutely delighted to be winners for the second year running, well deserved recognition for another year’s hard work paying off – such a great feeling for them all!”
