One of my very favorite things about Vancouver (heavy irony, folks) is the way we always think the problems here are unique to us and not actually part of a large trend hitting many cities. So I just love it when readers pass on to me interesting stories about how other cities are tackling exactly the same issues as Vancouver’s. Here’s one such story from Los Angeles—a comprehensive RAND Corporation study on the impact of private security guards hired by business improvement districts.
The LA study, published in February 2009, provides compelling evidence that Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) significantly reduce crime in affected neighborhoods. Using sophisticated statistical analysis of crime data across Los Angeles, researchers found that BIDs experienced substantially larger drops in violent crime and robbery than the citywide average, even during a period when LA was seeing overall crime reductions.
The findings are particularly relevant because they address exactly the kind of urban challenges that Vancouver’s business districts face daily: street disorder, petty crime, aggressive panhandling, and the general sense of insecurity that drives away customers and investment. The LA model demonstrates that organized, privately-funded security initiatives can complement public policing to create safer commercial environments.
What makes the study especially credible is its rigorous methodology. RAND researchers didn’t just look at crime statistics before and after BID formation—they controlled for broader crime trends and neighborhood characteristics to isolate the specific impact of business improvement districts. This approach helped rule out the possibility that BIDs were simply taking credit for citywide improvements in public safety.
The results were striking: BID areas saw robbery rates drop by roughly 12% more than comparable non-BID areas. The study also found minimal evidence of crime displacement—the common concern that private security simply pushes problems to adjacent neighborhoods rather than solving them. Instead, there appeared to be positive spillover effects, with some crime reduction occurring in areas immediately surrounding BIDs.
Vancouver already has its own version of this approach through Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) like the Downtown Vancouver BIA, which employs “Downtown Ambassadors” to patrol the 90 city blocks of the core commercial district. These uniformed personnel provide a visible security presence, assist tourists and shoppers, and serve as additional eyes and ears for police. Similar programs operate in Gastown, Chinatown, and other commercial districts.
However, Vancouver’s approach has been more focused on hospitality and minor infractions rather than the comprehensive crime reduction strategy documented in Los Angeles. The LA study suggests there might be room to expand and professionalize these efforts, particularly given the ongoing challenges with street disorder and property crime that continue to plague Vancouver’s commercial areas.
The economic argument for BID security is also compelling. The study found that crime reduction in BID areas was accompanied by decreased arrests, suggesting that private security helps prevent crimes rather than simply increasing enforcement. This preventive approach potentially saves public resources while creating more attractive business environments.
Critics of BID security often worry about privatization of public safety and potential civil liberties issues. However, the LA research suggests that when properly managed, private security can complement rather than replace public policing, creating layered security that benefits entire neighborhoods.
The study also highlights broader trends in urban governance, where business districts increasingly organize to provide services that cash-strapped municipalities struggle to deliver. From street cleaning to marketing to security, BIDs represent a form of local self-governance that addresses specific neighborhood needs.
For Vancouver, the LA findings suggest that our BIA programs could be expanded and strengthened as part of a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization. Rather than seeing security challenges as uniquely local problems, we might learn from successful models elsewhere to create safer, more vibrant commercial districts.
Your comments welcome on whether Vancouver should be looking more seriously at the LA model for business district security.
