Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), John Tizard launched the countywide Safer Streets Summer Initiative today. 

The initiative, which runs until the end of September, is led and co-ordinated by the PCC to implement the government’s national programme to make town centres safer over the summer period.

PCC John Tizard said: “The Safer Streets Summer Initiative is very important to me as PCC, to our local authority partners and the government.

“The initiative supports my ongoing mission to strengthen neighbourhood policing, prioritise prevention, and drive system-wide reform. By working together, Bedfordshire is taking a stand against crime and anti-social behaviour, ensuring that every resident feels safe and protected.” 

The campaign sees a significant increase in high-visibility enforcement and partnership activity across Bedfordshire’s towns—beginning with a high-profile walkabout in Luton town centre today.

At the event, the PCC brought together local MP Rachel Hopkins, Councillor Maria Lovell, Luton Council’s portfolio holder for Community Safety, council enforcement officers, Luton Business Improvement District (BID), police officers, and representatives from partner agencies.

John further commented:  

“This weekend I am especially pleased to be in Luton where we are building on the successful partnership Luton Town Centre Task Force which brings together Luton Council, Bedfordshire Police, the Luton Bid and myself. 

“The Council is increasing its activities in the town centre and Bury Park over the summer as are the police. The approach is intelligence-led and partnership-driven, focusing on visible, consequence-based policing and local authority interventions to reduce crime in communities.

“Luton is and should be a vibrant, welcoming town where businesses thrive and people feel safe and come to shop, socialise, and live.

“Today is an opportunity to showcase the collaborative approach being taken to address crime and public safety in Luton, where efforts to make the town centre safer have been ongoing and will now be further intensified.  

“We are strengthening our efforts to build safer communities across Bedfordshire. Every community deserves to feel safe, no matter where you live.”

The campaign focuses on tackling anti-social behaviour, retail crime including shoplifting, and ensuring that residents, visitors, and businesses can feel safer.

In Luton, the Luton BID and local businesses are involved as well as, and in both Bedford and Luton so are British Transport Police. 

Ian Ferguson, managing director of the BID, said: “Luton BID are looking forward to a continued successful Partnership with Bedfordshire Police, Luton Borough Council and the town centre steering group to continue to make the town centre safe and welcoming for everybody.”

Councillor Maria Lovell, portfolio holder responsible for community safety at Luton Council said, “Keeping our communities safe takes genuine partnership and we are working side by side to tackle the issues that matter most to residents. Our priority is to ensure that everyone - residents and visitors - feel safe and can enjoy their time when out an about in busy, shopping areas of our town especially with so many summer events taking place.

“We can see from the work already being done that this joined-up approach is already making a difference.”