Liverpool city centre firms are being urged to report crime and anti-social behaviour after two men were banned from the area for a "campaign of violence and aggression".
Mark Thomas, 29 and Richard Wright, 40, have both been banned from large sections of the city centre after courts agreed to Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) in January.
Thomas received his ban for criminal damage, theft, violence, anti-social behaviour and theft from a shop.
He has since been jailed for eight weeks after breaching the terms of his order outside Liverpool Crown Court within a week of the CBO being put in place.
Wright was armed with a knife and was handed his ban for violence and theft.
Merseyside Police the Liverpool Neighbourhood Team and two BID police officers funded by Liverpool BID Company worked in collaboration to bring the men to justice.
Both orders cover anti-social behaviour taking place over several months, covering the first national lockdown and subsequent lockdowns in Liverpool.
Now, businesses in the city centre are being urged to continue to report any abuse or activity that makes them feel unsafe as police continue to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
Dave Crawford, BID Police Officer, said the stores impacted gave statements to the officers outlining the impact of the anti-social behaviour, and it was those that show how important reporting can be.
Other recent incidents include one store where several hundred pounds worth of goods were being stolen on a weekly basis.
Inspector Crawford said: "The relationships we build with businesses across the BID Area at Liverpool BID Company are of vital importance during this kind of coordinated campaign, because the retail staff can be worried about reporting on violent offenders, they can think nothing is going to happen or that it’s too time consuming.
"It can take many conversations to secure statements but when we submit these to our colleagues at St Anne’s Police Station it brings it one step closer to the courts and to getting these offenders off the streets."
He continued: “These banning orders haven’t just removed two dangerous individuals from the city centre, but make going to work safer for retail staff. Any abuse or violence is not tolerated in Liverpool, but particularly during this incredibly difficult time for staff on the front line.
"Our message to business is that reporting each and every incident is worth it as it helps us to build a case and protect our city centre.
“At one store, several hundreds pounds of goods were being stolen on a weekly basis.
"At a time when retail is under such pressure, this could be the difference between surviving the economic crisis and being forced to close.
"It is a load off their minds, a store manager told me, knowing these individuals are something they won’t have to worry about, at a time when there is such much to worry about.”
