Security

In establishing the BID in 2016, almost every business told us they were concerned about the high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. As a result, we introduced our Marble Arch Street Team in August 2016.

Our Street Team have remained one of the BID’s greatest, in demand, and most prized assets for members, being highly visible and approachable. Our members frequently describe them as an essential service, extremely effective and providing much-needed reassurance to staff, customers and visitors.

Over the last 12 months, up to 31 January 2026, the Street Team logged a total of 26,188 reports and responded to incidents which included: identifying and reporting 1,196 instances of begging; conducting welfare checks and referring rough sleepers 2,560 times; responding to 525 reports of theft, ASB and criminality; reporting over 325 environmental incidents such as graffiti, fly-tipping, waste, dockless bike obstructions and highway defects; visiting and assisting businesses 20,681 times.

The Street Team patrol Monday-Thursday from 8am-10pm and Friday-Saturday from 8am-midnight. To contact the Street Team please email getinvolved@marble-arch.london or call 07825 750777/07852 566122. Remember, if a crime is in progress or in an emergency, please call 999. To report a crime that has already taken place please call 101.

The Street Team originally operated Tuesday to Saturday from midday, but over time their service adapted in direct response to member feedback. In 2017 a morning shift was added, followed a year later by the introduction of Monday patrols. Their duty hours were first extended to midnight in 2019, but in response to the pandemic and in order to reduce costs, these were scaled back to 10pm. In 2023, late night coverage was reinstated, with Friday and Saturday patrols operating until midnight.

The most recent developments include the launch of a 24-hour Control Centre to handle out-of-hours calls in 2024, and a Street Team surge service during Winter Wonderland in November and December 2025.

The team has become the go-to resource not only for BID members but also for the wider community, with our officers undergoing regular training across a wide range of specialist topics. We recognise that their continuous development and focus is paramount to their performance and the service they provide. They make an average of 400 reports and referrals every week.

The Street Team have also been recognised by the wider UK industry for their work. In 2019 they won the ‘Best Wardens of the Year in a Safety Security and Resilience Team’ award run by Association of City and Town Management. In 2025 they were winners of the ‘Emergency Response Award’ at the Pride of Retail Risk Awards.

Our Business Crime Group was launched in November 2018, enabling businesses to meet their local policing teams, hear about the latest operations and actions, and also raise their concerns and questions in person. These have continued to develop and now include the addition of Westminster City Council attending to deliver similar updates and listen to our members, plus occasional guest speakers on topics our members want to hear about. With their success, attendance has increased and now numbers over 25 businesses at each meeting.

We first launched our Security Alerts in 2019 and subscribers have tripled since then. We now send 50 bulletins a year to 600 members and stakeholders across the capital.

Our bespoke security training offer for BID members commenced in July 2016, which to date has included sector specific and themed workshops including Personal Safety, Conflict Management, Welfare and Vulnerability (WAVE), Challenge 25, Martyn’s Law, ACT (Counter Terrorism) courses including Project Argus, Project Griffin and Document Awareness. Our training offer has always reflected requests from our members about what is important to them and what key learnings they would like.

When particular crimes or trends emerge, we arrange training and adjust Street Team patrols in response. The appearance of phone snatching in 2022 and rise in shoplifting in 2024 saw us not only devise specific training and briefing sessions for our members on these issues, but also task our Street Team to particular locations, sectors and premises. To support late-night and overnight businesses during Winter Wonderland, the BID deployed a Street Team surge service in November and December 2025, extending patrol hours and introducing a special Sunday patrol service.

Our BID is an active member of Safer Business Network and the West End Security Group which gives us access to a wealth of crime intelligence, counter terrorism support and planned police protests. We also maintain direct contact with the Metropolitan Police which gives us access to the latest intelligence and events.

Since 2022 we have led and run the Edgware Road Operations and Enforcement Group which includes Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and TfL. This group focuses on the work and aims of the Edgware Road Strategy Group, and leads on all operational activities and issues.

In 2025 we initiated and worked in partnership with Safer Business Network to deliver the first four Safe Havens in the BID area. The Safe Havens initiative forms part of the BID’s broader strategy to improve safety for women and girls at night and offer reassurance to anyone who may feel vulnerable, whether living, working, or visiting the Marble Arch and Edgware Road area.