STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE NYPD INDICATE that crime decreased by more than 5% during 2003 in the Midtown South Precinct. Crime also continued to fall in the Fashion District, decreasing by 1% over the past year.

In addition to keeping the streets safe, the FCBID public safety officers also provide assistance to the public.

In 2002, the NYPD launched Operation Impact, a program that assigns additional police officers to targeted areas. Certain areas along and around Eighth Avenue in the Fashion District were included in the program, and criminal activity declined as a result. Operation Impact has been renewed for this next year and will focus its attention once again on the Fashion District. The extra police officers will be patrolling at 10 specific posts from 35th Street to 41st Street, along and between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

In order to keep the FCBID public safety officers up to date, their supervisors conduct training at daily roll calls. Officers are instructed on various types of incidents and criminal activity that they might encounter and how they should respond. As necessary, the FCBID also regularly invites outside individuals to conduct training about specific issues.

Accordingly, this past year, the FCBID:

• Invited the Jewelry Security Alliance to train Fashion District jewelry store owners and public safety officers in methods to reduce theft and prevent charge-backs on credit cards;

• Began cooperating with the NYPD’s Operation Safe Bank, a program instituted in the wake of a wave of Midtown bank robberies;

• Received training from the Secret Service in methods to combat identity theft;

• Distributed wanted flyers regarding known “office creepers” and other criminals to commercial buildings and hotels;

• Sent one of its public safety officers to the Police Academy as part of the APPL program. This officer received instruction in Citizens’ Rights, Police and Behavioral Science and other subjects;

• Held a class during which a representative from the Recording Industry Association of America focused on the details of DVD and CD counterfeiting practices by local street vendors.

As the threat level in New York City remained high, the FCBID also continued to keep its public safety staff up to speed on information and intelligence generated by a number of agencies. In addition, the FCBID continued to stress emergency preparedness, including the following:

• Supervisors attended a variety of risk and safety seminars and meetings;

• Public safety officers received daily briefings on current information;

• Public safety officers were certified by the Red Cross in CPR and first aid;

• New emergency preparedness equipment was purchased.

Public safety supervisors conduct training at daily roll calls.

The FCBID works closely with inspectors from the Mayor’s Office of Midtown Enforcement to bring Fashion District vendors and ground floor establishments into compliance with New York Fire, Health, Building, and Vending regulations. OME regularly conducts inspections in the district, particularly along Eighth Avenue. This past year, OME conducted 73 inspections, and issued 448 violations and 57 summonses. The inspection targets within the FCBID included mobile food vendors, nightclubs, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, adult establishments, commercial buildings, construction sites, food commissaries/depots, garment manufacturers, and illegal social clubs.

The FCBID public safety department now numbers 4 supervisors and 23 public safety officers. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Public safety officers are on the job seven days a week.

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