Bradford BID and Police Promote Reporting of Non-Emergency Crime

New campaign encourages reporting of shop theft and anti-social behaviour

Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) has partnered with West Yorkshire Police to launch a week-long campaign aimed at increasing the reporting of non-emergency crime and anti-social behaviour in Bradford city centre. The initiative, known as the ‘Report It Campaign’, began on Monday 9 February and seeks to encourage businesses, residents, and visitors to report incidents such as shop theft, disorder, and nuisance behaviour.

Details of the campaign

The campaign highlights the importance of reporting incidents through the non-emergency 101 phone number or via West Yorkshire Police’s online reporting system. Officials stress that unreported incidents cannot be formally investigated or acted upon, as a police log and crime reference number are required.

Nikki Chadburn, Business Communications Manager at Bradford BID, explained that the BID Patrol Team frequently encounters issues affecting safety and confidence in the city centre but faces limitations without official police reports. She said the campaign aims to empower people to take the extra step of reporting, which will help build a clearer picture of street-level crime and support targeted policing.

As part of the campaign, the BID Patrol Team is visiting city centre businesses to distribute leaflets and engage directly with retailers and staff to raise awareness about how and when to report incidents.

Police response and recent crime figures

West Yorkshire Police have welcomed the campaign, emphasising the need for consistent reporting to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour effectively. Inspector Justin Adams of Bradford District Police noted that partnership working with Bradford BID improves engagement with businesses and the community.

Inspector Adams highlighted that within the Bradford City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) area, more than 280 people have been arrested for shop theft in the past year. The police have also used hotspot patrols to address ongoing anti-social behaviour and criminality.

He urged the public and businesses to report any concerning behaviour, no matter how minor it may seem, stating that every piece of information assists in targeting resources, investigating offences, and preventing crime escalation.

How to report incidents

• Non-emergency incidents: Call 101
• Online reporting: Visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it
• Emergencies: Always call 999

The ‘Report It Campaign’ builds on previous BID-led efforts to improve safety and support for city centre businesses, including the BID Patrol Team, a 24-hour member support line, and partnership work with the City Centre Beat team.