WORCESTER BID’s Safer Streets officer has helped recover £20,000 worth of stock and cash stolen from city centre shops.

The role was introduced last year to increase security in the city centre.

City councillor Jabba Riaz, speaking at Monday’s (July 22) Place and Economic Development committee, said it is just one of the services once provided by the state that is being covered by the BID.

Samantha McCarthy, the BID’s chief executive, said with “lower numbers of police on the streets”, the BID’s Safer Streets team helps to recover up to £3,000 worth of stolen stock and money from city shops every month.

“They also help with first aid incidents, they have helped with lost children, we’ve had missing persons where we’ve had to help them get back to their homes - Safer Streets is a lot more than we used to have with a retail security officer.”

The BID is running an enhanced Safer Streets officer programme throughout the school summer holidays.

“You will see three out at the moment and they’re covering between 9am to 9pm. We’ve taken it later because some businesses have said they don’t feel safe after a certain point.

“To have our team patrolling and to have an authority figure people can see - it should give people more reassurance.

“When we ran a public perception survey the same feedback came out, that the public feel safer when there’s somebody there.

“It’s ok to have cameras and radios but that’s not going to stop something happening to you, whereas a professional adult who is there to observe and be around can interfere. He knows what to do.

“A lot of people are scared now to be that bystander and interfere and stop something happening, whereas that’s what their job is to do, even if it’s just to say hello and stop something that could escalate.”

Cllr Riaz said: “As a result of Covid you’ve decided to focus on people and through that how much benefit you’ve brought the economy, you’ve saved thousands in NHS costs, you’re providing play.

“But all these services were once provided at some level by the state and have been cut through drastic underfunding of our youth centres, of our police, of our NHS.

“All these services you’ve picked up and you’ve made a difference not only to the people using those services but the businesses as well.

“This is a perfect example and a great showcase to take nationally. It should be congratulated and taken to the highest level. What you’re delivering is over and beyond what a traditional BID does.”