Harrogate businesses have joined police and industry experts at an event aimed at tackling retail crime.
Harrogate BID’s Fight Back Against Retail Crime event, delivered with Smoke Screen, brought together town centre businesses to discuss practical ways to protect staff, customers and premises.
It follows the introduction of the ShopSafe app, which has attracted 65 active users across Harrogate town centre since 29th June.
The app helps businesses share information with North Yorkshire Police’s neighbourhood policing team and is already used by Harrogate BID to manage Pubwatch and Shopwatch.
A new reporting pilot involving ShopSafe and North Yorkshire Police was scheduled to launch on 1st October, giving businesses a simpler, more direct route to report crime through the app.
According to Harrogate BID, North Yorkshire Police will be the first force to introduce this reporting route with ShopSafe.
The BID has also announced plans to launch a Business Crime Reduction Partnership in April 2027 and work towards accreditation from the National Association of Business Crime Partnerships (NABCP).
Paul Evans, Business Crime Officer at Harrogate BID, said:
“It was encouraging to see Harrogate businesses come together with police and industry experts to share ideas and practical ways to tackle retail crime. Strong relationships and timely information sharing are vital to helping businesses protect their staff, customers and premises.
“With the success of the ShopSafe app so far, we are building a stronger network. The new reporting pilot and our plans for a Business Crime Reduction Partnership will build on that progress, making it easier for businesses to report crime and work together towards a safer Harrogate.”
Paul opened the event alongside Harrogate BID Chief Executive Jason Maxwell.
Speakers included North Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Paul Crabtree and Retail Crime Sergeant Jess Hall-Christie, alongside Titus Halliwell from the National Business Crime Centre and Sophie Jordan from the NABCP.
Representatives from ShopSafe, Eboracum, Apex and Smoke Screen also contributed to the programme.
Town centre businesses were joined by representatives from Newcastle and Leeds BIDs, with a North East NABCP meeting held after the conference to share best practice.

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