Coventry Best 4 Business

The landlord of a historic Coventry building, which has been a long-running target for petty crime, is aiming to stop the problem with help from the city-wide Business Improvement District team (BID).

Highcross owns the 200,000 sq ft former Royal Ordnance Building at the Central City Industrial Estate, which currently houses major Coventry firm NP Aerospace.

The building has repeatedly had windows broken and metals stolen from its grounds, with the cost running into tens of thousands of pounds.

The final straw came in mid-October when dozens of windows were smashed after youths trespassed and pelted stones at the glass.

Highcross made several security improvements to the estates - which contains 30 units - and contacted the city-wide BID company, Coventry Best for Business (B4B), to see if they offer additional help.

Coventry B4B responded immediately by instructing its 24/7 mobile security patrol cars to increase their visits to the site and is working with local authorities, including the Police, to solve the problem.

NP Aerospace, which helps equip the British army with equipment including armoured vehicles, ballistic resistant helmets and body armour, has also welcomed the changes which will reduce the hassle to its employees.

Roger Medwell, managing director, said: "We are a Coventry firm, staffed by Coventry people and trying to provide important products for clients around the world - including our own army.

"The amount of time our staff have wasted rectifying vandalism and replacing stolen materials is totally unacceptable and it is frustrating because it is a distraction from the job at hand.

"We needed the problem sorting and I'm pleased that Coventry B4B is involved."

David Hoare, one of Coventry B4B's Business Area Champions, said: "It's important for BID levy payers or the landlords to let us know about their problems. We've managed to address the issue here quickly and the whole estate will benefit.

"This type of crime is exactly the type of thing we need to eradicate and we're hoping that we have taken steps to start that process here."

If you are a city-wide BID levy payer and would like to speak to the Coventry B4B team, call 024 7665 4300.