Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue police funding in the town centre.

The town has benefitted from extra policing since 2008 when the BID and Metropolitan Police Authority first entered into a shared-funding agreement which led to the two organisations jointly funding ten extra officers dedicated to town centre policing.

Since forming in 2009, the BID-funded Croydon Business Crime Reduction Partnership (CBCP) has seen 19 prolific offenders banned from premises in the town centre.

Re-offending rates for shoplifters are currently at 12 percent, compared to the national average of 20 percent and around 80 individuals have been re-housed as a result of targeting rough sleepers.

Croydon BID chief executive Matthew Sims said: “Safety and security remains high on our agenda and the relationship we have developed with the Metropolitan Police over recent years has enabled major in-roads to be made in deterring and tackling Town Centre crime, with a particular focus on business crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Our continued funding of extra police is great news for everyone living, working and doing business here in Croydon as it sends out an extremely strong message about our commitment towards tackling crime and improving perceptions of safety, no matter what time of day people visit.”