In Somerset, a Shop Watch scheme has been introduced in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead, in time for the festive season. Neighbourhood Sergeant Mark Raby said: “This new initiative connects our local shops and pubs with each other, the police and councils, meaning we can work together to quickly tackle any problems. As well as deterring shoplifting, it will help us pick up on anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime and disorder in time to nip it in the bud. We hope that by working together we can maintain our safe and busy town centres.”
Shopping areas in all three towns will be linked to North Somerset Council’s CCTV, which is monitored 24/7 by council staff. Shop workers, licensees, shopping centre security staff, police and CCTV operators will be linked together by radio. This radio network means that shop staff can share details of suspected crimes or troublemakers with each other and the authorities.
Charlotte Jarrett, manager of the Crown Glass Shopping Centre in Nailsea, said: “Crown Glass Shopping Centre and our tenants are very happy to see the introduction of the Shop Watch scheme. It’s a great opportunity to open up communication lines, speed up responses to crime and further improve the safe environment Nailsea endeavours to achieve for all our customers. Other towns and cities have proved the scheme’s success and its effectiveness in combating crime. The radios are a welcomed link.”
Police have agreed an information-sharing protocol so that shop staff can be given photographs of persistent offenders to look out for.
PS Raby said: “Tackling shoplifting is an important part of the scheme. Shop theft affects everyone, because stores can end up hiking their prices to cover these losses, while some small local businesses can be driven to close down. As well as helping shop workers and shoppers to feel safer, the initiative will support our local licensees in meeting their responsibilities so that people can enjoy an evening out while disruption to residents is kept to a minimum.”
Howard Pothecary, North Somerset Council’s Community Safety Manager, said: “A similar scheme in Weston-Super-Mare has proved successful and we are pleased that other towns in North Somerset will benefit from agencies and businesses working together to fight crime.” The neighbourhood team is grateful for support from: Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead Town Councils; Crown Glass Shopping Centre, Nailsea; Iceland; North Somerset Council; and Waitrose.
