A crime reduction partnership has been launched in Leicester suburbs to help prevent businesses from becoming victims of crime.
Several businesses have already signed up to the scheme: City Watch, Oadby and Wigston Against Crime, which will enable them to keep in touch via a radio link and pass information between each other about suspects, offenders and trouble makers. Pictured: Graham Collins, Sam Gutteridge, Insp Bunn, David Fletcher, PC 4600 Sheela Kaya, Kevin Loydall, Dick Pollard, Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Sarah Dickinson, Joe McCann and PCSO Chris Thornton.
City Watch, Oadby and Wigston Against Crime was launched on Thursday, August 21, by Sarah Dickinson, Mayor of Oadby and Wigston, Kevin Loydall, Chairman of Oadby and Wigston Community Safety Partnership, Graham Collins, City Watch Intelligence Manager and PC Sheela Kaya from Oadby and Wigston local policing unit.
Graham Collins who set up the scheme said: “Oadby and Wigston Council, police and traders in Oadby and Wigston have joined forces to stamp out shoplifting in the towns. All businesses will be equipped with radios to communicate with each other and will receive daily intelligence from City Watch.
“City Watch has been successful in reducing shoplifting in Leicester for 14 years, bucking the current national trend where it has increased. Having been approached by the police and council I believe we can reduce crime in both towns and carry on our success from Leicester. It is a challenge, but I strongly feel we are up to meeting that challenge and hope all businesses will support us in this venture.”
Sam Gutteridge, from Epic Accessories who has signed up to the scheme, said: “To stay competitive in today’s market we need schemes like this to reduce costs in order to stay viable as a local family business.”
Kevin Loydall, said: “As the Chairman of the Community Safety Partnership in Oadby and Wigston, I welcome the launch of City Watch, Oadby and Wigston Against Crime. Reducing crime in our borough is one of the main priorities of the Community Safety Partnership and by working with City Watch and other partners we will be able to support local businesses in their fight against crime, particularly in the areas of theft from shops and anti-social behaviour in and around our town centres.
“City Watch encourages the reduction of crime through a preventative method which discourages persistent offenders from shops and the town centres. The objective of City Watch can only have a positive effect upon the town centres and encourage a far better environment for customers.
“Through the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour and the perceived fear of crime, not only customers will benefit but also the staff who work in the shops.
“The success of this scheme will encourage greater economic investment by promoting a safe place to invest, work and live.”
And PC 4600 Sheela Kaya, a member of Wigston Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We want Oadby and Wigston to be a place where everyone can enjoy shopping. The scheme is about sharing information and is a good example of City Watch, shops and the police working in partnership for the good of the community.”
