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Safer Wakefield

Wakefield’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP)
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A safer, stronger Wakefield – driven by businesses

Safer Wakefield is a Business Crime Reduction Partnership scheme led by Wakefield BID giving businesses across the city centre the tools and support they need to reduce crime, tackle anti-social behaviour, and improve communication across Wakefield.

Whether you’re part of retail, hospitality, or the night-time economy, this is a business-led solution, shaped by your feedback and focused on real results.

Our approach

A joined-up approach that works

Digital Radios & Smart App

All members get access to our modern digital radio system and Safer Wakefield app. Stay in touch with nearby businesses and share alerts in real time.

  • Use the app to send and receive updates

  • Report incidents easily

  • Track banning notices

  • Stay aware of what’s happening across the city.

Tackle problems faster

Whether it’s retail theft, anti-social behaviour or loitering, Safer Wakefield makes it easier to respond quickly, prevent escalation, and support one another.

Businesses already using the system have seen a marked improvement in communication and confidence.

Knowledge is power

The new intelligence-sharing platform—available via mobile app—helps businesses report incidents, spot known offenders, and track crime trends and hotspots in real time.

With smart features like facial recognition and linked offender profiles, the more we share, the safer we all become.

✔️ Hytera digital radio
✔️ Access to the Safer Wakefield app
✔️ Onboarding and in-person setup
✔️ Ongoing support from the Wakefield BID team
✔️ Monthly updates and safety resources
✔️ Free training opportunities

What We’re Doing to Tackle Crime and Improve Safety

As a nationally recognised Business Crime Reduction Partnership, Safer Wakefield brings together practical tools, local knowledge and business collaboration to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Here’s how Wakefield BID is leading the charge:

Business Safety Training

We offer flexible training sessions – both in person and online – covering theft prevention, conflict resolution, incident reporting, and Martyn’s Law awareness. It’s about giving staff the knowledge and confidence to handle real situations.

Street Support & Clean Environments

Our BID Street Ranger provides daily on-the-ground support to businesses, while we also invest in keeping the city centre clean, welcoming, and well-maintained. From graffiti removal and fly-posting to planting schemes and public realm improvements – it all helps create a safer space.

Safer Nights Out

We support initiatives like WalkSafe, Ask for Angela, and Best Bar None to make Wakefield’s nightlife safer for staff and visitors. We’re also backing Purple Flag status to promote a vibrant, well-managed night-time economy.

Business Radio & App

All members receive a digital radio and access to the Safer Wakefield app, making it easy to share alerts, report incidents, and stay in the loop. Real-time communication means quicker responses and stronger collaboration. Members are also invited to a monthly Safer Wakefield meeting, where businesses come together to share intelligence, insights, and updates to help strengthen our city-wide approach.

“The new radio system is a real step forward for Wakefield, with clearer communication, stronger collaboration, and a noticeable improvement in safety across the city centre.”

– James White, Centre Manager, Trinity Walk

“That we are hearing a lot more retailers on the radio is really positive – we didn’t have this before”

– Savers

“Better audio quality, less dropout, longer battery – it’s a noticeable improvement.“

– Wool n Stuff

“It’s nice to hear someone from Wakefield BID active on the radio – we feel more connected.“

– My Eco Baby CIC

Membership Details

£30

Per month, billed monthly

Includes radio, app, and full support.

Join Now

£90

Per quarter, billed quarterly

Includes radio, app, and full support.

Join Now

£360

Per year, billed yearly

Includes radio, app, and full support.

Join Now

Some Facts

A quick snapshot of the impact Safer Wakefield is already making across the city centre.

90+

Businesses already using Safer Wakefield

10+

New users onboarded weekly

24/7

Radio coverage supported by BID team

£30

Per month

Our partners

Safer Wakefield is led by Wakefield BID, working alongside city centre businesses and supported by organisations including Wakefield Council, City Centre Control room, and other partners.

Together, we’re building a stronger, safer Wakefield through collaboration and shared responsibility.

Safer Wakefield was launched by Wakefield BID as a direct response to what our businesses told us they needed: better communication, stronger connections, and a more coordinated approach to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

Wakefield BID leads and manages the scheme, working closely with businesses and supporting partners to deliver real, practical solutions — from radio communications and reporting tools to training and day-to-day support.

This is a business-led partnership, focused on action, built for Wakefield, and shaped by the people who live and work here every day.

The project is part funded by the Wakefield Community Safety Partnership, supporting our shared goal of creating a safer city centre for all.

Free trial

Try Safer Wakefield free for one month. We’ll get you set up with a radio, access to the app, and show you how it works — no commitment needed.

Terms and Conditions apply.

Wakefield BID
20 Wood Street
Wakefield
WF1 2ED

saferwakefield@wakefieldbid.co.uk

View Safer Wakefield Partnership Privacy Notice
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Privacy Notice for the Safer Wakefield Partnership Scheme

Version: 1.0

Date Published: 21 July 2025

1. Who are we?

This Privacy Notice explains how the Safer Wakefield Partnership (referred to as “we”, “us”, or “the Partnership”) collects and uses your personal information for the purpose of preventing and detecting crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Safer Wakefield Partnership is the Data Controller for the information processed within this scheme. The scheme is managed on a day-to-day basis by Wakefield BID.

Our contact details for any data protection queries are:

2. What is the Safer Wakefield Partnership Scheme?

The Safer Wakefield Partnership is a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP). It is a membership scheme that allows local businesses to work together with each other and with partners like the police to make Wakefield a safer place to work, visit, and live.

Members of the scheme use a secure software system called ‘Alert’ to share information about individuals who have been involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour in or around their premises. The primary goal is to prevent future incidents and, where necessary, to exclude individuals who cause persistent problems from all member premises.

3. What is our lawful basis for processing your information?

We do not rely on your consent to process your information for this purpose. Doing so would not be appropriate. Instead, we rely on the following lawful bases under UK data protection law:

For processing your personal data, we rely on Article 6(1)(f) – Legitimate Interests. It is in the legitimate interests of our members and the wider community to work together to prevent and detect crime and to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

For processing information about criminal offences or allegations, which is more sensitive, we rely on Article 10 of the UK GDPR, as it is necessary for a substantial public interest. We meet the specific condition set out in Schedule 1, Part 2, Paragraph 10 of the Data Protection Act 2018, which relates to the ‘prevention and detection of unlawful acts’.

We have conducted a detailed Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to ensure our processing is necessary, proportionate, and does not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.

4. What information do we collect about you?

We only collect the minimum information necessary for the scheme to work effectively. This includes:

  • Your name and any known aliases.
  • A photograph of you (usually a still image from CCTV).
  • Your physical description.
  • Details of the incident you were involved in (time, date, location, and nature of the behaviour).
  • Date of Birth / Approximate age

We do not collect any other special category data, such as information about your health or sexuality.

5. How do we collect your information?

Your information is submitted to the scheme by our trained member businesses following an incident of crime or anti-social behaviour. This report is then verified by the Safer Wakefield management team before any action is taken. The information, particularly your photograph, may come from CCTV footage captured at the member’s premises. All members are required to display clear signage indicating that CCTV is in operation.

6. Why do we process your information?

We process your information for the following purposes:

  • To prevent and detect crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour.
  • To protect the safety of staff and customers in member premises.
  • To manage the scheme, including deciding whether to issue warnings or exclusion orders.
  • To enforce those exclusion orders by sharing information with other members.
  • To provide evidence to the police to support official investigations where appropriate.

7. Who do we share your information with?

Your information is treated as confidential and is only shared on a strictly need-to-know basis with:

  • Other members of the Safer Wakefield Partnership: To allow them to identify you and enforce an exclusion order.
  • Our technology provider: The company that runs the secure ‘Alert’ software platform acts as our Data Processor and is not permitted to use the data for any other purpose.
  • West Yorkshire Police: We may share information with the police under a formal agreement to support the prevention and detection of crime.

8. How long do we keep your information?

Our data retention periods are strict and are automatically enforced by our system:

If an incident report results in an exclusion order, your data will be shared with members for the duration of the exclusion (typically 12 months). After the exclusion ends, your data is archived for a further 12 months for legal and analytical purposes before being permanently deleted.

If an incident report does not result in an exclusion order, the data is permanently deleted after 12 months.

9. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have several important rights regarding your personal information.

  • The right to be informed: This Privacy Notice is intended to meet this right.
  • The right of access: You can ask for a copy of the information we hold about you. This is known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).
  • The right to rectification: If you believe any information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it.
  • The right to erasure: You can ask us to delete your information. Please note, this is not an absolute right; we may need to keep your data if we have a compelling reason to continue processing it (e.g., your exclusion is still active).
  • The right to object: You have the right to object to us processing your data based on our legitimate interests. If you object, we must stop processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds that override your interests.
  • The right to restrict processing: You can ask us to pause the processing of your data in certain circumstances (e.g., while you are challenging its accuracy).

Please note: Safer Wakefield does not use any purely automated decision-making. All decisions to issue an exclusion order are made by trained members of our management team.

10. How to exercise your rights or make a complaint

If you wish to exercise any of your rights or make a complaint about how we have handled your data, please contact us using the details below.

To make a Subject Access Request (SAR), please submit your request in writing. We will need to verify your identity before we can release any information to you.

11. Your right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

If you are not satisfied with our response to your query or complaint, you have the right to complain to the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

12. Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may update this notice from time to time. The latest version will always be available on the Wakefield BID website and will be displayed in our members’ premises.

01924 782337