A partnership for a safer City
The City of London Crime Prevention Association (CoLCPA) facilitates a network of like-minded professionals with an interest in security and provides information on the current security risks and threats with guidance on the appropriate level of protection to put in place.
Membership of the Association is open to organisations who are located within the City of London or have security-related interests within that area.
The CoLCPA offers a programme of regular events covering a range of current topics such as counter terrorism, security technology, cybercrime, economic crime, staff security screening, business continuity, travel safety and more. Specialist speakers are experts in their respective fields and cover current and emerging topics and threats.
Each meeting, hosted in one of the magnificent Livery Halls, includes high-level updates from the City of London Police on crime, demonstrations and counter terrorism issues. There is attendance and support from senior and local officers of the City of London Police at all monthly meetings and other events, enabling discussion and debate on crime prevention advice and emerging trends.
History
In the latter part of the 1970s, it was recognised that communities should be enlisted in the fight against crime, and that the police alone could not – and indeed should not – be the sole participants in this struggle. Although this was recognised in 1970, this ethos continues to be more relevant than ever today.
This view secured widespread support and culminated in a government initiative to encourage the creation of crime prevention panels where representatives from both the community and police could meet to discuss local crime problems and work towards joint solutions to those problems.
The resident population of the City of London is small due to the concentration of business offices within the City. As a result, the pattern of crime is unique. Street crime is low in comparison with other city centres. The vast majority of the City working community is employed within the financial sector and supporting services.
Three Crime Prevention Associations merge to one
Given this unique set of circumstances, in 1978 the City of London responded by establishing three Crime Prevention Associations, (CPAs) each closely aligned to one of the existing Police Divisions (at Snow Hill, Wood Street and Bishopsgate). Each Association had a strong sense of identity and this was reflected both in their close relationships with the divisional police stations and their respective members.
The Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 placed unprecedented emphasis on both the role and the importance of crime prevention partnerships between the police and communities.
It was about this time that the three CPAs began to consider the possibility of establishing one City CPA. It was not until around spring 2003 that this initiative came to fruition when the Wood Street Crime Prevention Association and the Bishopsgate Crime Prevention Association amalgamated to form the City of London Crime Prevention Association (CoLCPA).
From this time, the CoLCPA has continued to provide an established and unparalleled interface between the City of London Police (CoLP) and the unusual and diverse City community that it serves.
The Committee
The work of the CoLCPA is overseen by a committee which is elected from its membership:
Chairman: Don Randall, MBE
Deputy Chairman: Paul Eskriett, MBE Secretary: Eugene O’Mahony
Treasurer: Robert Wilson
Committee members: Paul Barnard, Graham Bassett, Christine Critchley, Steve Emmins, Ashley Fernandes, Joe Singh, Peter Lavery, Darren Leigh, Keith Low, QPM, Danny Moody, Emma Shaw and Richard Woolford.
Administration Manager: Irona Wilson
Working in Partnership
A key part of the work of the CoLCPA is the development and support of crime prevention initiatives. Whether this is financial support, expertise, governance, strategy setting, or oversight, we have been in at the beginning at a number of major initiatives, including Building Security Accreditation (BSA) and Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications (CSSC).
Building Security Accreditation (BSA)
The City of London Crime Prevention Association developed BSA in conjunction with the City of London Police, the City of London Corporation and representatives of managing agents and the security industry. The aim of the Building Security Accreditation scheme is to raise the standards of security within multi-occupied buildings. It provides a benchmark of the commitment of property owners to the protection of their premises, their personnel and the public at large.
Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications (CSSC)
The City of London Crime Prevention Association has been at the heart of the development of CSSC. The CoLCPA Chairman, Don Randall, MBE is one of the founding members of the CSSC board and has been strongly instrumental in its success.
A unique Association
The CoLCPA is as unique as the City of London itself. We provide the City of London Police and the community we serve with an invaluable communication network. The concerns of CoLCPA members reflect the needs and priorities of the City of London Police and vice versa. Over the years, our joint initiatives have achieved a great deal in tackling new crime risks as well as maintaining vigilance around more traditional problems.
Regular updates during COVID-19
Over the months of the pandemic, the CoLCPA has provided its members with regular email updates from partnership organisations, with information on how to keep individuals and organisations safe.
Until it is possible to resume regular meetings, the CoLCPA plans to meet virutally. Meetings restart in September as video conferences with the kind support of UniTrust.
For membership details please email us today.
contact@cityoflondoncpa.org.uk
For further information visit our website:
For more articles on the CSSC visit our CSSC Category and for articles on other partnership initiatives, visit our Police & Partnerships Category
