Businesses and store owners in Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping town centres are being encouraged to join a retail crime deterring partnership scheme to fight the rising menace of shoplifting and keep staff safe.
As shoplifting offences continue to rise nationally, bringing increased costs to business, South Kesteven District Council is providing £25,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to expand the Shopwatch scheme to Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.
A Shop Watch or Pub Watch scheme is a network of local businesses that come together to tackle the risks associated with business crime. They can operate in town or city centres or even out of town areas where a group of businesses have decided to work together.
A ShopWatch Radio Scheme is a shared communication network that connects local businesses using two-way radios. All members operate on the same radio channel, allowing them to speak to each other at the push of a button.
When an incident occurs, such as suspected shoplifting or aggressive behaviour, a brief alert can be broadcast to the entire network. Other businesses can then prepare, remain alert, or take appropriate action.
ShopWatch schemes are often managed or supported by local councils, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), or town-centre management teams. Many are also linked to security staff or CCTV control rooms, adding an extra layer of oversight.
A successful scheme is already active across retail, hospitality and other premises in Grantham.
The money has paid for radios to allow businesses to communicate between themselves, warn each other of suspicious activity, share descriptions of suspects and details of offences that have been committed.
They are also linked to SKDC’s CCTV control room where cameras are monitored 24/7 and can be linked directly to Lincolnshire Police.
Barbara Mooney, Pubwatch and Shopwatch Co-ordinator for Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping, said: “My aim is to help businesses tackle retail crime within these areas to make the community safer and offer greater security and safety for staff.
“They will receive a radio from South Kesteven District Council and the licence is paid for the first year. Businesses wanting to take advantage of this offer need to be a member of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce Shopwatch scheme.”
As part of her role, Barbara provides a monthly up-to-date photo gallery of offenders and visits shops involved to discuss any updates or issues.
In-person Shopwatch meetings are held every three months.
Cllr Paul Stokes, Deputy Leader of South Kesteven District Council, said: “This is an important investment that will make a significant difference to communication between businesses in Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping.
“Retail crime can have a major impact on local businesses. Signing up for Shopwatch will give retailers the chance to work together in a practical way by quickly passing on intelligence to each other.”
The new radios have been supplied to SKDC through local outlet Roadphone, in Bourne.