The Night-time Economy in South Wales West

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 15 June 2022.

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Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 2:16, 15 June 2022

Thank you, Minister, for your answer. While I appreciate that matters related to crime are not devolved, one issue that's raised frequently with me is the issue of business crime in and around Swansea city centre. Swansea business improvement district have been working on a project to combat crime within the city to make the centre a more attractive and prosperous proposition to potential investors and entrepreneurs. Together, they've launched the Swansea Against Business Crime initiative, and it's clear from discussions with partners and businesses in the city that there are concerns around the lack of a strategy relating to business crime in the night-time economy.

The clear links between the statutory authorities and the vision that the SABC have is clearly accepted by those businesses. It's the intention to ensure that under the SABC, any signs of crime or anti-social behaviour in all its forms, as far as possible, are collated in a format that can be used to determine true issues that businesses in the city recognise. Given that this has a profound effect on the economy within the city, and the fact that these issues will not only be isolated in Swansea, what immediate steps can be taken to support our businesses, working with BIDs across Wales to alleviate some of those issues?  

And finally, will you commit to working with stakeholders, including police and crime commissioners and other Government Ministers, to give these businesses further support in their quest to tackle business crime within the area?