The Leeds Business Crime Reduction Partnership (Leeds BCRP), in collaboration with West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council, has launched a scheme aimed at reducing shoplifting and anti‑social behaviour in the city centre by using a live radio network and an intelligence portal for businesses.
How the scheme will operate
The initiative will enable retailers, licensed premises and other city‑centre businesses to exchange information quickly and to relay incidents to policing and council teams through a connected channel. Leeds BCRP said the technology and information‑sharing tools will be paired with training and advisory services for participating businesses.
- Live radio network: an immediate communications channel for businesses on the ground.
- Intelligence portal: a central place to record incidents and identify patterns.
- Training and advice: support for businesses to improve reporting and response.
According to Leeds BCRP, schemes of this type already operate across about 80% of commercial areas nationally. The partnership says its objective is to produce "timely, accurate intelligence that can be acted upon and that will bring results, justice and over time, act as a deterrent to would‑be criminals."
"If we want to reduce offending and, just as importantly, improve how safe the city feels, that must be done collaboratively - bringing together businesses, local authorities and policing to share information, identify patterns and risks early, embed best practice and coordinate our response."
The quote above is from Supt Matt Scott of West Yorkshire Police, who emphasised the complex drivers behind crime and anti‑social behaviour in a large urban area and the need for a coordinated approach.
Local data and drivers
Recent figures from West Yorkshire Police show a modest rise in reports of anti‑social behaviour across the county — an increase of 1.3% between March 2025 and March 2026. In Leeds, the rise was larger, at 4.2%, a trend the partnership cited when justifying more proactive engagement with businesses.
| Area | Change in ASB reports (Mar 2025–Mar 2026) |
|---|---|
| West Yorkshire (county) | +1.3% |
| Leeds (city) | +4.2% |
Leeds City Council said maintaining a "welcoming and thriving" city centre is vital for the local economy, and framed the BCRP's work as helping to co‑ordinate responses between the council, businesses and police.
Why businesses welcome the move — and what remains to be seen
Representatives of city‑centre trade, such as Pubwatch Leeds City Centre, have signalled support for better real‑time communications among premises. The partnership plans to increase reporting by giving businesses greater clarity on outcomes and by providing more direct support where needed.
While similar systems nationally have a track record in enabling faster information flow, the effectiveness of the Leeds scheme will depend on take‑up among businesses, the quality and timeliness of intelligence provided, and how swiftly partner agencies convert that intelligence into visible action and enforcement.
For city‑centre visitors and workers, the scheme promises improved situational awareness and a more coordinated response to incidents ranging from vandalism and drug use to noise and littering — the broad categories that constitute anti‑social behaviour.
Officials say the partnership will roll out training and engagement activity to encourage businesses to report incidents and to understand how shared intelligence will be used. How rapidly this translates into measurable reductions in offending or improved perceptions of safety will be a key test for the new network.
