Funding given by Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner to support crime prevention initiatives in Crawley

Earlier this month, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne met with the Manager of Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch, Paul Dowling, at County Mall in Crawley.

Joining the meeting were representatives from local businesses including Primark, Superdrug and The Entertainer. Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch assists members in reducing crime and they also manage the Disc system - an important, app-based platform used by many retailers to alert one another about shop theft or those committing anti-social behaviour.

The app enables users to quickly share information, including a description of offenders, times they were last seen and even allows them to add images. The app also allows users to swiftly report crime to the police. The app is increases communication amongst retailers, enabling stores to manage exclusion or banning schemes as well as efficiently and effectively submitting detailed reports, helping the police to catch offenders.

In March 2025, local businesses in the town centre voted against renewing their membership of the Crawley Town Centre BID which was funded via their local business rates. With one of the key objectives of the BID being ‘making the town centre safer’, Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne was keen not to lose some of the town’s effective safety initiatives already in place.

PCC Bourne has provided £25,000 to Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch, who previously received funding from the BID, to ensure they, at least, can continue their essential crime prevention work.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “It was extremely disappointing to hear that Crawley businesses voted against maintaining their Town Centre BID – which is funded through a levy imposed via the business rates scheme and is not a ‘direct cost’ to individual businesses.  Whilst it’s important that businesses have a say and need to see value from their business rate contributions, this decision has far-reaching consequences.  For example, the BID funded the effective team of business wardens who will no longer operate across the town centre as a result.  Should the businesses wish to keep the warden scheme, they will now have to pay for it directly.

“I have stepped in to continue funding the Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch scheme to enable them to continue with their vital safety initiatives for the coming year such as: the information-sharing Disc platform; updates for retailers on known criminals; security radios; support for businesses with licensing matters; as well as various training programmes to retailers and their staff.

“Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch are a key partner to local neighbourhood policing teams and it is vital we have tools in place to support retailers, work with the police and keep our streets safe.”

Manager of Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch, Paul Dowling said: “On behalf of The Crawley and Gatwick Business Watch (CGBW) we would like to thank the Police & Crime Commissioner for her financial support, ensuring our scheme's viability through 2025–2026. The support will enable us to reduce business-related crime and maintain a strong partnership between local businesses and law enforcement.”