On Small Business Saturday it is good to hear the Brentwood Business improvement District covering the High Streets of Brentwood, Ingatestone and Shenfield is getting some more Town Rangers to help keep our High Streets safe and happy. I was pleased to meet up with some of them, and Essex Police, working hard on Brentwood High Street recently, and hope their presence will encourage all of us to head to our local High Street shops and small businesses to do our Christmas shopping this year.
This is what Brentwood Connected has to say about the new Rangers:
"Our Town Rangers are multiplying this Christmas! 
The number of Brentwood Connected Town Rangers patrolling Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone town centres will increase from two to four, to cover the busy Christmas period this year.
Funded by Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID), a team of Town Rangers has been working across the BID area in Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone since July 2024. They ensure the borough’s town centres are safe and friendly, supporting Brentwood Connected’s commitment to creating welcoming and well-managed spaces. They engage with local businesses, residents and visitors, as well as reporting anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and begging. During the Town Rangers’ first year, levels of crime and anti-social behaviour decreased, and in the year from August 2024 they retrieved £49,714 of stolen goods for businesses. From now until the end of 2025 there will be four, rather than two, Brentwood Connected Town Rangers on duty in the three town centres.
Working closely with Essex Police, Brentwood Borough Council, the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), Essex Youth Service, and utilising the Shop Safe radio scheme introduced by Brentwood Connected, the Town Rangers are Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed, Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) accredited and first aid trained. They are recognisable in their green tactical vests with Brentwood Connected logos and funded by town centre businesses through the Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID).
Brentwood Connected Business Improvement District (BID) Manager Sarah Walmsley said, “We are pleased to be welcoming two extra members of the Town Ranger team to Brentwood, Shenfield and Ingatestone this festive season. We know the Christmas period can be exceptionally busy for our retailers, and it’s a time when people visit the High Streets to eat, drink, shop and visit our service businesses more often. Increasing the team of Brentwood Connected Town Rangers will ensure our spaces remain friendly, welcoming, and that businesses have extra support if they need it over the next few weeks.”
