IPSWICH Central, the company responsible for delivering the Business Improvement District (BID) in Ipswich, yesterday launched a new Exclusion Order scheme in partnership with Suffolk Police.

IPSWICH Central, the company responsible for delivering the Business Improvement District (BID) in Ipswich, yesterday launched a new Exclusion Order scheme in partnership with Suffolk Police.

The twin aims of the scheme are to make first time offenders think twice before committing a crime and to remove persistent criminals from the town centre area.

Under the scheme, repeat offenders run the risk of being banned not just from the premises where the offence occurred but from all town centre businesses participating in the scheme

It is the latest initiative by Ipswich Central to improve the safety, appearance and commercial vitality of the town centre area since the BID - funded through a supplementary rate following a ballot of businesses in 2006 - was launched of the just under a year ago.

“One of the core strands for the BID is to make the town safer and more secure,” said Paul Clement of Ipswich Central. “Our goal is to continue to improve safety in Ipswich and we have made considerable strides in the first eleven months.

“The launch of the Exclusion Order can now extend to all businesses in the BID area, not just the retail dimension. In simple terms it says to persistent offenders that, if caught, they could be banned from numerous premises in the town centre.”

Offenders will initially receive a written warning about their future conduct. In the event of a repeat offence, an Exclusion Order will be served and details of the person circulated to all members of the scheme. Should a further offence be committed by the individual, an ASBO may result.

Inspector Matt Dee of Suffolk Police said: “This scheme should act as a deterrent to potential offenders. The greatest tool is that persistent offenders will be excluded from numerous premises, not just where the original offence was committed.

“The advisory notices served on first time offenders will illustrate the full range of establishments participating in the scheme. Therefore, recipients will be in no doubt as to the restrictions that could be imposed on them if they re-offend.

“Details of prolific offenders will be passed to the police and applications for criminal anti social behaviour orders (CRASBO's) will be considered where appropriate. Any joint initiative that can deliver the message that criminal activity will not be tolerated in our town is positive and fully supported by the police.”