Street Security team keeping Ipswich town centre safe

We are often surprised when we find that some businesses in the town centre don’t realise the Street Security team is a service provided by Ipswich Central using levy payer funds. 
 

In their black and red uniforms, they are a familiar and reassuring sight around the town centre for businesses and shoppers. You might have seen them on patrol giving directions to a visitor, helping someone who has taken a tumble or detaining a prolific shoplifter or other person wanted by the Police. But perhaps what you don’t see is their day in, day out persistence in tackling the kinds of anti-social behaviour that none of us want to see in our town.  
 

For example, shoplifting. It affects the bottom line of stores, thieves intimidate and even injure retail staff, high levels can deter prospective businesses from setting up in the first place and we all pay the higher cost required to take into account the theft of stock. 

Our four-man team works with store security staff and police to catch prolific shoplifters and deter others from even thinking about it. Since 2024, they have recovered over £29,000 worth of stolen stock from town centre shops and deterred thieves from a further £361,000 of losses.  

Gemma, Manager of the town centre B&M store in Carr Street is a big fan of the Ipswich Central Street Security team, she told us: “While we have our own security staff, without these guys, we would lose a lot more stock. Their very presence will often be enough to deter prolific thieves. A lot of shoplifters have drug and alcohol issues which means they can become quite aggressive, I’m amazed at the courage the Street Security team shows in tackling these thieves and detaining them for arrest by the police and we’re grateful for their support in keeping my team and customers safe.”  

The Street Security team has supported over 230 arrests in the same period – many for shoplifting but also for antisocial behaviour. They’ve also stepped in to stop some pretty nasty fights. When shop staff radios over that there’s a public altercation, the team runs towards it to help diffuse things while others watch or walk away.  
 

The Street Security team is also at the forefront of tackling problem drinking in the town centre. We’re not talking about shoppers enjoying a glass of wine outside a bar, but the street drinking that takes place in alleys, doorways and on public benches by those with a persistent drug or alcohol addiction. Ipswich Central has worked tirelessly to get the necessary legislation to ban such practices and allow the Street Security team to confiscate alcohol from street drinkers. 

In an average week, the team takes around 24 bottles or cans away from known street drinkers and there’s strong evidence that this practice deters serious anti-social behaviour, such as fights and urinating in the street, making the town centre feel safer.  Naturally, we accept these drinkers have a problem and the team do their best to encourage access to known local support services in the area.  

The Ipswich Street Security team works closely with the Police, sharing local knowledge on things like prolific offenders, where they congregate and their networks. Their incredible memories for faces also mean they often spot suspects that have police arrest warrants out for them – helping to take criminals out of our town centre. 

The Street Security team is provided by Ipswich Central for the town, funded by businesses, for business, for Ipswich. Without us, there would be no patrols, and we know from business engagement that retailers in particular are pleased to have them. Thank you for supporting a service that helps make Ipswich a more welcoming, safe place for shoppers, for those who work here and visitors to the town. 

There are four members of the Ipswich Street Security team. They are employed through an organisation called My Local Bobby, which operates right across the UK to maintain public safety and ensure street security. My Local Bobby has NSI Gold accreditation, the highest recognition in UK security. This means our team has access to training and support from this highly regarded national body.