Safer Colmore at Christmas: Colmore BID’s guide to enjoying a crime-free festive period

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas across the Colmore Business District. Recently, Colmore BID publicised the details of this year’s Christmas Lights switch on, Christmas in Cathedral Square, and the Christmas in Birmingham map.

We are approaching the season of goodwill, so we want to make sure you stay safe this Christmas by following our essential community safety advice. Our Christmas wish is for all of our businesses and visitors to have a safe, enjoyable and crime-free festive period whilst out and about in the business district.

We’ve put together a host of handy tips to stop the Grinch spoiling your Christmas fun!

Christmas shopping and personal property

• If in a bar or restaurant, keep your property next to you at all times and be aware of people who may try to distract you to steal your belongings.
• Mobile phones and laptops on tables are the most likely to be stolen,  as are handbags on the floor.
• Do not leave your Christmas shopping or valuables visible in your vehicle, it takes less than a minute for thieves to smash a car window and steal your goods.
• Consider protecting your property with the free Immobilise property register.

Mobile phones

• Having your phone stolen is an expense you can do without at Christmas.
• Make sure that your phone is secure in a bag or inside your pocket at all times.
• If you’re using your mobile in a public area, make sure you always keep an eye on what’s going on around you, if your call is at night, find an area that’s well-lit.
• Further guidance from West Midlands Police on how to prevent mobile phone theft can be found here.
• Remember – you lose more than just the handset. You also lose all your contact numbers, messages, photos and personal data. Knowing how to protect your mobile and keep it safe will save you a lot of inconvenience and stress.

Safe night out

• Meeting up with friends and family is all part of our Christmas celebrations.
• Whether you visit our many bars and restaurants, or the food and drink stalls at Christmas in Cathedral Square, you need to keep an eye on your drinks to make it harder for anyone who wants to spike your drinks.
• It’s important you recognise the symptoms of drink spiking so you can act quickly to help a victim of this type of crime.
• More details on drink spiking, the various symptoms and what to do if you suspect drink spiking has happened, click here.

Personal safety

• Whilst at work or out and about socialising, you may find yourself in a risky situation where you need to make quick decisions on how best to avoid harm and stay safe.
• If possible, avoid isolated, poorly lit and unfamiliar areas. Plan your routes around well lit, well known and populated areas where there are more people to deter any would-be attacker.
• Have a heightened sense of awareness when you use cashpoints
• Listen to your inner voice – if the situation feels unsafe then it probably is. Time to reassess and get yourself somewhere you feel safe and sound.
• West Midlands Police has some great personal safety crime prevention advice here.

Online safety

• Online and digital sales increase over the festive period. Businesses need to be cyber savvy and resilient to avoid being scammed.
• The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre has created cyber security guidance for a range of business sectors
• Action Fraud (National Fraud and Cyber-crime Reporting Centre) has produced helpful advice on various categories of fraud
• Anyone suspecting they have been a victim of online fraud can report it to Action Fraud  via this link.

Community reassurance

• We want everyone who works in or visits Colmore Business District to feel safe and secure, day and night.
• Our Street Operations Security Team patrols the District day and night to provide business and public reassurance, and create a thriving and welcoming environment for everyone.
• Our Security Team often conduct joint patrols with outreach workers, neighbouring BIDs and West Midlands Police –to provide a more co-ordinated and joined-up approach to delivering public realm community safety.
• Throughout the festive period there will be more joint patrols to manage the expected increase in footfall. West Midlands Police will also be conducting Project Servator patrols with the BID and other partner organisations to deter, detect and disrupt criminal activity and increase public trust and confidence. To learn more about Project Servator click here.
• You can find out more about the Colmore BID Street Operations Team by clicking this link.