On Wednesday 12th August, Home Office Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, Right Honourable Dame Diana Johnson, visited Bishop’s Stortford to learn more about crime and community policing in the town.
The Minister was accompanied by Josh Dean MP, Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Ash-Edwards and Hertfordshire Police Chief Constable Andy Prophet. Inspector Mark Collins led the tour, visiting Jackson Square Shopping Centre, the Methodist Church on South Street, train station and various independent businesses.
Joint BID Managers Karen Burton and Madeleine Lees were delighted to join the tour, and have the opportunity to speak to Dame Diana about collaborations and initiatives to help reduce crime and keep the community safe.
After the visit, Madeleine commented: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to Bishop’s Stortford and speak about some of the key challenges facing our town centre. She was interested to hear how Bishop’s Stortford Business Improvement District (BID) works in close partnership with local police to support businesses — from tackling anti-social behaviour to improving safety and footfall.
We also shared our progress towards achieving Purple Flag accreditation, which recognises towns with a safe and vibrant night-time economy. The minister was informed about our recent initiatives, including delivering BID-funded safety training to businesses, evaluating lighting and walking routes, and introducing new technology to help reduce anti-social behaviour in licensed venues.
Several local businesses were able to speak directly with Dame Diana, sharing their own experiences and giving insight into the day-to-day realities of running a business in the current climate. These personal stories helped to highlight the real-life impact of our work and the importance of ongoing collaboration.
We are extremely grateful for the time she spent in the town.”
Photo credit: Emily Warwick, MP’s office
Left to right: Chief Constable Andy Prophet, Madeleine Lees (BID), Josh Dean MP, Karen Burton (BID), Dama Diana Johnson, Jonathan Ash-Edwards (PCC) and Inspector Mark Collins.
