How to reach the Police! - Soho Business Alliance

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Earlier this month, key members of the SBA attended the Night Time Economy 2025 Summit in Birmingham, hosted by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). This crucial event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and business owners to discuss the future of nightlife, hospitality, and entertainment across the UK.

Representing Soho’s vibrant business community, SBA board members actively engaged in discussions on post-pandemic recovery, licensing reforms, venue safety, and sustainability within the night-time economy.

Earlier this month, key members of the SBA attended the Night Time Economy 2025 Summit in Birmingham, hosted by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). This major event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and business owners to discuss the future of nightlife, hospitality, and entertainment across the UK.

Key Discussions and Insights from the Summit

NTIA Women’s Empowerment Brunch
One of the standout sessions was the NTIA Women’s Empowerment Brunch, which focused on amplifying the role of women in the night-time economy. Industry leaders shared their experiences and discussed how to foster greater inclusivity, leadership opportunities, and safety for women in nightlife. Lots of insights, emphasising the importance of gender equality in business leadership and venue management.

International Nightlife Association: Releasing the Global Power of Nightlife
A panel led by the International Nightlife Association explored how nightlife serves as a global economic and cultural powerhouse. Discussions included insights on international collaborations, venue innovation, and leveraging global best practices to boost local economies.

Vibrant Nights, Safe Spaces: The Changing Role of Security in Nightlife
With evolving security challenges in nightlife, this session focused on new approaches to safety and harm reduction. Experts addressed the balance between venue security and ensuring an inviting atmosphere for customers. Topics included training for security staff, the use of technology in crowd control, and strategies for addressing antisocial behaviour while maintaining inclusivity.

Collaborating to Survive: The Urgent Need for Partnership between Hospitality and NTE Groups
The hospitality industry and the night-time economy (NTE) are intrinsically linked. This discussion highlighted the growing need for collaboration between venues, policymakers, and industry groups to overcome economic challenges, staffing shortages, and policy shifts.

From Vision to Impact: Turning Night-Time Strategies into Local Action
Policy discussions can only be effective if they translate into tangible changes at the local level. This session focused on strategies to bridge the gap between vision and action, with insights from cities that have successfully implemented forward-thinking night-time policies.

Building Safer Nights Together: Community-Led Approaches to Urban Night-time Safety
A strong emphasis was placed on community-driven safety initiatives and how nightlife businesses can collaborate with local authorities and residents to create safer environments. Case studies from across the UK demonstrated how proactive engagement with the community can improve perceptions of nightlife and reduce crime.

The Night Time Economy Report 2025
A major highlight of the summit was the release of the Night Time Economy Report 2025, which provides an in-depth analysis of industry trends, economic data, and policy recommendations.

The report covers:

Current market conditions and economic contributions of the night-time sector
Employment trends and challenges
Consumer behaviour post-pandemic
Legislative changes impacting nightlife businesses

Download the full report here.

IOL: The Night Time Economy – Balancing Vibrancy with Community Needs
The Institute of Licensing (IOL) hosted an insightful panel on how to balance the economic vibrancy of nightlife with the needs of local communities. Discussions covered noise management, public transport availability, and innovative solutions to mitigate friction between nightlife businesses and residents.

Medicinal Cannabis and Nightlife – Smashing the Stigma
A rapidly emerging topic in nightlife, this session examined how the perception of medicinal cannabis use in nightlife spaces is evolving. Experts from both the medical and hospitality sectors discussed legal considerations, harm reduction strategies, and consumer education on responsible use.

UK NTE Advocates: Shifting Priorities within Government
The role of advocacy groups in influencing government policies on licensing, taxation, and nightlife sustainability was a key focus. The discussion focused on how to ensure that nightlife remains a priority in policy decisions at both local and national levels.

Queer Spaces: Creating Safe Havens in the Night Time Economy
With growing challenges facing LGBTQ+ nightlife, this session explored the need for protected queer spaces that offer safety, inclusion, and cultural significance. Industry leaders discussed funding opportunities, policy support, and strategies to sustain LGBTQ+ venues in an ever-changing nightlife landscape.

The Future of Queer Nightlife: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations
Building on the previous session, this discussion examined how queer nightlife can evolve while facing increasing economic pressures, gentrification, and regulatory challenges.

Access to Funding: Opportunities to Fund Projects and Creatives
A crucial discussion for independent businesses and creative projects, this panel highlighted new funding streams, grants, and investment opportunities for nightlife entrepreneurs. Attendees received insights into securing financial support for venue renovations, safety initiatives, and community-driven projects.

Table Top Discussion: Pathways to Developing a 24-Hour Economy
A roundtable discussion focused on the steps required to build a truly 24-hour economy in the UK. Case studies from global cities such as Amsterdam, New York, and Berlin provided valuable lessons on infrastructure, licensing, and transport solutions needed to sustain a round-the-clock business ecosystem.

The Night Time Economy 2025 Summit provided a powerful platform for shaping the future of nightlife in the UK. Through engaging discussions on safety, inclusivity, economic growth, and policy advocacy, the event reinforced the importance of collaboration between businesses, government, and community stakeholders.

As Soho continues to be a leader in the UK’s night-time economy, the Soho Business Alliance remains committed to championing initiatives that ensure a thriving, safe, and sustainable nightlife sector.

The SBA has written a letter to the Mayors Office, asking for consideration for Soho, especially when considering the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, which will strongly affect Soho.

Our initial communication has been misconstrued as a proposal to wholly pedestrianize Soho, which was not our intended message. We sincerely wish to clarify that our sole objective is to participate constructively in the Metropolitan Development Committee's essential dialogue, with the primary aim of safeguarding Soho from becoming an unmanageable thoroughfare for vehicular traffic.

Our commitment remains focused on facilitating a balanced and considerate approach to urban planning that respects the area's distinctive character.

You can read our letter here: http://sohoba.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Soho-Business-AllianceMDC-Letter-to-Mayor.pdf

You can read the BBC coverage here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yrl1vgne9o

Members of the SBA Board met with Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Howard Dawber last week to discuss the challenges and priorities our members are facing in Soho and what support we need to keep Soho the unique, vibrant and successful community it is.

The SBA has been working hard to represent members' concerns to influential decision-makers. We have raised several key points as our goals:

To explore the implications of Soho's 24-hour lifestyle.

To address issues related to crime, safety, and the reputation of Soho.

We've discussed the importance of tourism and tax-free shopping.

We've advocated for more green spaces and safer streets, as well as cleaner streets overall.

We're emphasizing the need for community and outdoor activities.

We're always considering the impacts of growth and change in the area.

BBC - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce98m36m9lvo
Evening Standard - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-nightlife-night-economy-nightclubs-soho-costs-mayor-sadiq-khan-b1172965.html
Daily Motion (ES) - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x92wywe
MyLondonNews - https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/food-drink-news/london-pubs-closing-early-reasons-29614264

The SBA met with Rishi Sunak, and members of the Night Time Economy Alliance and others. We held a serious conversation about the impact of policies on our dear Soho.
Restrictive licensing is allowing London to be quieter when we should be celebrating our city, internationally.

Would you be open to creating a network of CCTV using your cameras?

This form is to collect information on existing private CCTV systems in Soho so that we can:
(1) more easily co-ordinate evidence gathering by the police when they investigate crime and
(2) consider additional cameras that could be added to cover more of the public realm and eliminate areas that have no coverage.

Westminster is now focussing on the Westminster After Dark. Please click here and read this, it does affect your business. Everything about how we survive in Soho might change, please read the document and take part.

We have copied just some pertinent points below, there is a lot to learn:

1.3 The Council’s evening and night-time plan should seek to create an inclusive, vibrant evening and night-time environment. In doing so the plan should also seek to ensure that people are safe, and residents are not adversely impacted by the negative effects which can arise during this period.
1.4 The City of Westminster is the UK's largest evening and night-time economy, a pivotal contributor to the UK’s economic prosperity and the facilitator of a multitude of diverse employment opportunities. Licensed premises constitute a significant component of our evening and night-time economy, driving up to £3.7 billion in economic activity—an impressive 5% contribution to Westminster's overall economic landscape.
1.5 Employing approximately 80,000 individuals, of which over 9,000 are Westminster residents, these venues represent one of the largest sectors for evening and night-time employment. Notably, restaurants and cafes spearhead this economic activity, generating a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £915 million while providing employment to about 31,800 individuals during these hours.
1.6 In formulating our plan, our objective is to pioneer an approach that manages this burgeoning growth while nurturing a vibrant, well-regulated, and secure evening and night-time environment. Balancing economic vitality with regulatory oversight and safety measures remains at the forefront of our future evening and night-time plan.
1.7 The engagement approach and the development of our plan, titled "Westminster After Dark," extends beyond the usual late-night economy activities (such as licensed drinking and entertainment premises) to encompass various aspects like retail, food choices, lighting, and sports facilities, aiming for a holistic approach. Additionally, Westminster After Dark will consider the transportation options available for navigating Westminster during evening and night hours as well as seek to address the specific requirements of workers within the evening and night-time environment to ensure their needs are adequately met.
1.8 The Westminster After Dark project will be delivered through four phases: research, engagement, formulation, and review phases. Engagement efforts involve various tools and forums to gather input from residents, workers, visitors, and businesses and will include a representative Stakeholder Assembly.
1.9 A forthcoming report to this Committee will delve deeper into thematic issues and engagement outcomes from the completion of initial engagement and the outcome of the Stakeholder Assembly.

As of the 17th July 2023 Central West Crime Assessment Team is introducing Op Retail. Op Retail is a new process for the Police to investigate theft reports from retail premises where an evidence pack is sent directly to the retailer to complete. In order for the Police to work smarter and allow more time to investigate high harm thefts we will be using Op Retail in the below circumstances.

Where CCTV is the only line of enquiry.
Where the suspect is not a repeat offender.
Where violence or weapons have not been used.
If the goods stolen are from a retail chain and the value is under £500.
If goods stolen are from a smaller retailer and the value is under £200.

In these circumstances The Crime Assessment Team will send you an evidence pack via email. The pack will consist of a letter explaining how to complete the evidence pack, an Axon link for CCTV and two statements.

Once the evidence pack has been sent the crime report will be closed. If the evidence pack is returned the evidence will be reviewed and if it is adequate the report will be opened and investigated.

When you report a crime please make sure that you provide an email address for the person you would like the pack sent to. Please also state if the suspect is a repeat offender and whether violence or weapons were used.

Step 1 - Identify yourself and your business, please

Step 2: Information about your CCTV and cameras.

Step 3: CCTV going forward

Data and GDPR

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