Safe & Sound in Colmore evening out... more pleasing,

With more than 30 years’ service in West Midlands Police, Paul Street is perfectly placed as Strategic Project Officer: Safe & Sound Work Stream for the Colmore Business District.

Over the last decade, the night time economy in the Colmore Business District has changed beyond recognition.

Where once it was the preserve of work colleagues sneaking in a postoffice pint, these days it’s the wellheeled who come to wine and dine. With the likes of Henman & Cooper, The Grand Hotel, Gaucho, Vagabond and Vinoteca rubbing shoulders with Michelin-starred Purnell’s and the skyscraping Orelle, the area has become renowned as a stylish place to socialise. And as the impressive list of fine dining hotspots grow, so too has the need to offer safe and secure spaces.

Heading up initiatives concentrating on joined-up security is former police officer Paul Street. “Historically, Colmore BID has been a commercial business area and at one time the hospitality offer was very small,” he says. “It was generally those working in the area that visited the restaurants and bars. More recently we have seen this change, as the offer has grown, vacant premises have been taken over and it has become more appealing to a wide audience. In fact, there are now really clear indications that some of those who socialise here have no association with the district as a place of work; instead they are choosing to come here.

“It’s become a much nicer area for an evening out, and more aesthetically pleasing, safe and enjoyable. There is little public disturbance and that is not lost on those who choose to socialise here. While we still have a strong presence of young people, the audience we attract is often from an older age group – people wanting to enjoy the atmosphere and classy venues.

“We are recognised as a safe destination, and the BID has developed a strong relationship with our hospitality venues, both licensed and nonlicensed, to ensure this. For example, we realised that many younger women felt more relaxed meeting in a coffee shop rather than a bar, but traditional ‘pub watch’ schemes didn’t cover these establishments, so we have expanded our safety projects to cover these types of venues too.”

One of the key policies adopted by the BID is the Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (SAVI). This self-assessment scheme offers owners and operators of licensed premises the tools to provide a safe environment for staff, customers and local communities. It was developed at the request of the Home Office by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, with input from security experts and industry professionals.

Three of its objectives are the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance, and it comes hot on the heels of a YouGov survey that found three out of four adults supported improved safety procedures in bars, pubs and nightclubs following recent national publicity around women’s safety.

“Business crime is often not what is happening inside the venue; it is what goes on outside and can give the wider perception that places are not safe,” says Paul. “We looked at how to work better and smarter with BID groups from across the city as well as nationally. This has led to us working in tandem with others, where we all have crime and safety as a priority. We now have five venues that have gained five star SAVI accreditation – Primitivo, Fazenda, The Square Peg, The Old Joint Stock and, most recently, Purecraft Bar & Kitchen – with others working through the process at the moment.”

Licensing SAVI brings together the most comprehensive, single source of information that licensees need to meet the requirements of police and council licensing teams, as well as information on effective management practices and security.

Another key scheme – and part of the BID4 business plan – is Ask For Angela. This national programme means anyone who feels unsafe or threatened can discreetly seek assistance by approaching staff in participating venues and asking them for “Angela”. This code-word indicates they require help with their situation. “It might be simply keeping an eye on them or helping them get a taxi. Or the person who is making them feel intimated will be asked to leave or, in more extreme circumstances, the police will to be called,” explains Paul. However, while much has been done to boost safety and security, Paul acknowledges there is still more work needed to support hospitality venues post-Pandemic.

“Our BID4 manifesto will see us strengthening our security teams and extending their tours of duty into the evenings. This will mean that during the night time there will be a more visible presence.

“We are also working closely with Lawrence Barton, the city’s new NightTime Economies Champion. He is very open to offering his commitment and support to anything that ensures we provide a safe environment, and we look forward to continue working with him in future.”

Colmore Bid During Bid4

Colmore BID recently released its Consultation Document, which will help shape its Business Plan for the BID’s fourth term between 20242029. The development of a safe and secure District is a priority with themes including: n Update the Colmore BID security patrol team rotas to work later into the evening and support our growing night-time economy.

Above: The Old Joint Stock and Purecraft Bar & Kitchen receive their 5-star National Police Safety Award from Licensing SAVI, adding two more to the list of restaurants and bars with a 5-star safety rating in Birmingham

Facing page: Paul Street of Colmore BID n Continue safety classes, and develop the Women’s Safety Group through events, and guidance. n Launch a new resilience alert system to immediately share critical information with businesses about emergencies, public disorder and other safety matters. n Support a contactless giving scheme to benefit the charities and organisations the BID works with.

Find out more about Colmore BID’s BID4 ambitions by visiting colmorebusinessdistrict.com