Merseyside hosts landmark conference driving national action on town centre safety
09.01.26
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Merseyside
Merseyside Police, together with Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, has today, Friday 9 December, successfully hosted a national Safer Town Centres Conference at the Royal Liver Building, uniting national policing leaders, government representatives, academics, and community safety experts to drive forward a shared vision for safer, more resilient town centres across the UK.
The event marked a significant moment for Merseyside, showcasing the region’s leadership in tackling antisocial behaviour, retail crime, and demonstrating its commitment to prioritising local policing.
Delegates from across the country gathered to explore practical, evidence‑based solutions that put communities, businesses, and frontline workers at the heart of long‑term change.
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, said: “Neighbourhood policing is the cornerstone of trust between communities and the police.
“It’s about being visible, accessible, and proactive in tackling the issues that matter most to local people.
“Our region has a strong tradition of partnership working, so I was proud to host this national conference here in Liverpool alongside Chief Constable Rob Carden. Our goal was to bring together key voices from across policing, local government, business, and community safety to share ideas, showcase innovation, and strengthen collaboration to tackle anti-social behaviour and retail crime.
“By working in partnership, we can create town centres that are not only safe, but vibrant and inclusive – places where businesses thrive, visitors feel welcome, and residents feel proud to call home.”
Rob Carden, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, said: “This conference brought together decision makers from across the country, not just to talk about how we make town centres safe, but how we make town centres where people and businesses actively thrive.
“We had a clear objective when we decided to host the conference – to demonstrate our commitment to national leadership on issues that really matter to our communities. I want to show Merseyside that their force is prioritising the issues they’ve said matter to them: antisocial behaviour, retail crime, and having neighbourhood bobbies out on the beat
“By sharing ideas and experience from across the UK, we can equip ourselves to make our town centres spaces where we all want to live and work, and this conference marked a shared, national commitment to that goal.”
Throughout the day, speakers reinforced the central role of neighbourhood policing in creating safer communities. Merseyside Police emphasised its commitment to investing in local teams, building meaningful relationships, and listening closely to the needs of residents and businesses.
Retail crime was another major focus, with discussions highlighting the need for strong partnerships between police, retailers, and local authorities. Delegates heard how technology, intelligence sharing, and joint problem‑solving can reduce repeat offending and protect frontline retail staff.
The force reaffirmed its commitment to supporting retailers, ensuring workers feel safe, and bringing offenders to justice; all part of the force’s Winter of Action.
Merseyside Police will continue to work closely with partners to ensure town centres across the region remain safe, welcoming places for people to live, work, and thrive.
