Eastbourne and Lewes Business Crime Reduction Partnership

The Eastbourne & Lewes Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) is a partnership formed from local businesses and agencies in the borough of Eastbourne and Lewes District. These agencies include Sussex Police, Eastbourne and Lewes Councils and Your Eastbourne BID. It works to reduce crime relating to the day and nighttime economy that impacts on businesses and the wider community.

What is a BCRP?

A Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) is a partnership-based approach to preventing crime and disorder. It is a subscription based, business-led, action group working with police and the local authority to tackle and reduce crime and disorder affecting businesses and the wider community.

This link explains in more detail how a BCRP operates;

Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP)

Working Together to Prevent and Reduce Crime

The BCRP manager is SARA trained with 11 years of experience in running the scheme.

Working with businesses and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams in a co-ordinated manner to identify and target prolific offenders. This includes working with Police Youth Officers and schools to put in early interventions to divert and educate young people from committing crime or causing anti-social behaviour.

Safe Space Sussex

The Safe Space Sussex Scheme is an East Sussex-wide initiative aimed at making residents feel safe. It forms a network of locations offering a somewhere safe to go a person feels unsafe, scared, threatened or at risk of harm, whilst out in public.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide a space and facilities where people can seek help, make a phone call or simply wait in a safe environment until they feel comfortable to continue their day.

Safe spaces include businesses, organisations, community spaces, and various other publicly accessible eligible venues. Premises that have signed up have done so voluntarily and been assessed as suitable premises. They can provide individuals with access to a private or a quiet area, access to a phone, a toilet and drinking water, whilst accessing the space.

All members of the Safe Space Sussex scheme receive guidance from the PCC's office so they can provide appropriate support to those seeking help. Signage is provided to members to display in their shop windows, indicating their involvement in the scheme.

You can find the nearest safe space to you by using the map function on the website by using the devices' location or entering a postcode.

Information on how to sign-up to become a Safe Space can be found:

Safe Spaces Sussex

If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please email [email protected]

Night Safety Marshals

Launched in January 2024, the Night Safety Marshals aim to provide an additional visible presence in the town, helping with the early identification and dispersal of emerging risks. Operating from 8pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday nights, the marshals patrol areas of Eastbourne town centre, visit night-time venues, and support community members while they are out in the town.

Please see articles below giving more information on what the Night Safety Marshals do and have done;

Eastbourne Launch Night Safety Marshal Scheme

Eastbourne Night Marshals: Seven Months of Success

Intelligence and Direct Crime Reporting platform

The BCRP uses the DISC Littoralis intelligence platform to empower communities to share information about incidents and offenders, as well as current awareness about safety and security matters, so they can better protect themselves and their property, staff and customers.

About Disc - A low-level Crime Information-sharing System