Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) is pleased to announce the launch of their new Ranger scheme.
The Rangers are security trained and accredited and will patrol Winchester city centre streets as part of the BID’s commitment to providing a safer environment to live, work, study and visit.
Winchester BID has collaborated closely with Winchester City Council Community Safety Team and Hampshire Constabulary to provide this extra support to its business community to help reduce low level crime and antisocial behaviour in the city.
With effect from Thursday 1st November 2018, they will be an additional security presence in the BID area. They will be easily recognised in Winchester by their smart dark blue uniforms which will display a “Winchester BID Ranger” logo.
The Rangers will be part of, the well-established radio link scheme which supports the Pubwatch and Shopwatch initiatives.
The BID and partners are pleased to welcome Ryan Tench and Joshuah Kenway to the Rangers team and we look forward to assisting them in delivering this additional support.
Jane Bastock, Business Crime Reduction Manager at Winchester BID said: “We are excited to announce this scheme. The rangers will provide a professional and reassuring presence within the city centre. They will be providing frontline customer service, handling situations as they arise and supporting the other frontline emergency services, carrying out regular daily patrols to help act as a deterrent whilst becoming a welcoming and reassuring sight and presence for the public.
The Rangers will take a friendly approach to deter antisocial behaviour and disorderly conduct and act as a deterrent against potential crime as well as being a welcoming presence to residents and visitors, helping to provide directions and public information and assistance.
The Rangers role will play an important ambassadorial role in the city and help tourists and visitors with directions and be a welcoming presence on the street, whilst also playing a supportive role to the many independent retailers and helping to keep our city safe”
Rangers will play a central role and liaise closely with all partners involved, including the local council, police and help to support local businesses in the city, with the aim to also improve information sharing and partnership working between Winchester City Council and local Police.
This initiative supports the BID agenda to boost safety and security in Winchester’s city centre and act as an additional platform in BID’s overall commitment to enhancing the atmosphere of the city as a welcoming, friendly and inviting place to live, work, study and visit. The rangers programme follows the success of its other crime prevention initiatives and compliments the including the Pub Watch and Shop Watch schemes.
Venture Security said: “Antisocial behaviour is a common problem within any town or city centre location. As well as being unpleasant for residents and visitors, it has the potential to adversely impact on footfall, local retailers and more broadly, the reputation of the area. We are looking forward to working closely with BID and the other partner organisations to help combat crime and help to develop a community security presence on the street.
Jon Turton, Police Inspector Winchester City Centre Team
“We are looking forward to working closely together and believe this is an exciting step forward to dealing with and reassuring the local community in street safety.”
Jane Bastock summarised: “The rangers will begin their patrols on a regular basis from today and will be a great help as the streets get busier with people coming into the city for the festive season.”
Venture Security is a Hampshire based company, who are one of the UK’s highest performing security contractors, ranked within the top 2% of security providers in the country by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The rangers will work in shifts and are Security Industry Authority Accredited.
