Thousands of tourists visit St. Helens Town Centre each week, making the city a vibrant hub for nightlife and recreation. However, it also draws thieves in addition to tourists. Theft, vandalism, burglary, and antisocial behaviour have been the top concerns for business owners.
About 20,000 crimes were reported in St Helens between March 2022 and 2023, which is 30% higher than the national average. With 600 violent events reported in a single year, the Home Office may have designated the city centre as a severe hotspot for violence.
This is where business security services in St Helens become crucial. Along with routine patrols and 24/7 security coverage, manned guarding services deter criminals and protect employees and customers.
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What Makes St Helens Special
St Helens has historically been an industrial town, with a focus on glassmaking and coal mining. Today, the city is evolving into a centre for retail, services and logistics.
- Heritage and Resilience: From a long history of innovation, identity retention is rooted in a deeper understanding of local businesses and communities.
- Economic Diversification: Growth in distribution centres, industrial estates for research and development and office space means new employment opportunities.
- Town Centre Regeneration: Progress in retail and leisure schemes in the town centre has reintroduced footfall.
Engaging with a professional security guarding service can help protect a business’s future prosperity and ensure St Helens is viewed as a viable, sustainable, safe and attractive town.
Businesses Booming in St Helens
Retail and Shopping
High street stores and shopping malls form the backbone of the town centre. With increasing instances of theft and shoplifting, business security services are crucial for safeguarding both inventory and personnel.
Leisure and Hospitality
St Helens pubs, restaurants, and night-time venues generate the evening economy. But they also present dangers of disorder, violence, and vandalism. Security guards ensure crowd control and overt reassurance.
Industrial and Logistics
Warehouses and distribution hubs near St Helens store high-value goods. Thieves often target such enterprises. That’s why manned guard services are required to secure assets.
Offices and Service-Based Enterprises
Executive office buildings contain sensitive data and equipment. Access control and regular patrols deter intrusions and keep employees secure.
Rising Crime Trends in St Helens
According to the St Helens Star news, over the period from March 2022 to March 2023, St Helens recorded 30% more reported crimes, increasing from 16,151 to 21,060.
Town Centre Violence Hotspot
The St Helens Star reports that the Home Office has listed St Helens town centre among Merseyside’s hotspots for serious violence. More than 600 violent events were reported in a single year, with many involving the night-time economy. It supports the use of visible, active security guarding services.
Recent Crime Reductions
Merseyside Police reports that between April 2024 and March 2025, crime in St Helens decreased by 11.3%, with over 2,000 fewer crimes logged. Residential burglary decreased by 17%, and robberies against the person decreased by 33%. Serious violence, knife crime, and public order offences also went down.
While these are improvements, the town centre is still at risk. Companies that invest in mobile patrol security and 24/7 security guarding services can help strengthen these encouraging trends.
How Security Guarding Services Reduce Crime in St Helens
A security company in St Helens offers tailored security guarding services to reduce crime and protect businesses.
Regular Patrols: Thief and Vandal Deterrent
Regular security patrols have a visible deterrent effect, deterring intruders, vandals, and burglars. In St Helens, where local businesses are threatened by burglary and property damage, regular patrols ensure blind spots and weak points are under constant watch at all times.
Access Controls: Guarding Off-Limits Areas
From convenience stores to industrial parks, regulating access to restricted areas is crucial. Security guards implement ID verification, visitor registration, and employee authentication, blocking unauthorised entry and protecting inventory, equipment, and confidential data.
24/7 Monitoring: Rapid Response to Incidents
24/7 manned guarding ensures incidents are detected and dealt with straight away. Whether a burglary, fire alert, or anti-social incident, professional guards in St Helens provide swift responses that reduce losses and disruption.
Mobile Patrol Security: Adaptable Cover for Multi-Business Parks
Where large areas, such as business parks and industrial estates, are involved, mobile patrols provide flexible coverage. The presence of mobile patrols helps decrease the fear of crime among staff and customers, thereby ensuring a secure environment.
How Manned Guarding Transformed Safety in St Helens Town Centre
In 2023, a busy retail centre in St Helens experienced a surge in shoplifting incidents and rising reports of antisocial behaviour in the evenings. Local business owners complained of stock losses and nervous staff.
Crime complaints decreased by 40% in six months after the implementation of manned guarding services, which included nighttime patrols and strict entrance checks. The centre’s image improved, employees expressed more morale, and shoppers felt safer. The accomplishment demonstrated how hiring a competent security guard service may yield quantifiable outcomes.
Why Physical Protection Still Matters in a Digital World
Technology cannot prevent crime. Though CCTV and alarms capture events, they cannot prevent crime from escalating. However, visible on-site guards can:
- React immediately to incidents.
- Neutralise conflicts before they erupt into violence.
- Seamlessly work with technology to enhance detection and prevention.
The blend of on-site security guard presence and advanced security tools makes SIA-approved manned guarding services in St Helens a prominent source of security.
Why Now is the Time to Invest in Business Security
The success of St Helens Town Centre relies on safety and confidence. As crime levels rise to become genuine threats to trade and the public, business security services, from manned guarding to mobile patrols, provide the frontline protection every modern business requires. For maximum safety, local businesses should engage with a top security firm in St Helens today.
Region Security Guarding, a reputable security firm and SIA-approved contractor, offers customised security solutions to meet the growing difficulties. Our well-trained security officers can prevent crime, protect property, and provide comfort to employees and clients through frequent patrols, access control, and round-the-clock manned protection.
Contact us today to know more about tailored manned security services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are business security services?
Business security services consist of manned guarding, mobile patrols, and access controls. They deter crime and safeguard assets, employees, and customers.
2. Why are business security services relevant in St Helens?
The crime rate in St Helens remains higher than average, with theft, burglary, and anti-social behaviour affecting businesses. Manned security services deploy SIA-approved guards to minimise these risks.
3. What are the advantages of business security services in St Helens?
Business security services deter theft, reduce anti-social behaviour, and provide a more secure environment for customers and staff. They safeguard property and minimise loss.
4. What is SIA Approved Manned Guarding?
It’s guarding that meets the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) rigorous standards of training, vetting, and behaviour, vital for adequate contemporary protection in St Helens and throughout the UK.
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