Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhoods Team have launched the Business Watch Scheme in Beckenham Town Centre in preparation for the increase in Christmas trade. Statistics show that there is an annual rise in street crime on the run up to, and over the holiday period, including shoplifting, theft, pick pocketing and anti social behaviour.
The Business Watch Scheme is designed to unite the business community against criminal activity in the town centre. Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team provide photographs of persons who have committed the above crime types in the area to the stores, staff can then identify those who are committing offences and they can subsequently be barred from the store or arrested. This can eventually lead to ASBO applications for repeat offenders.
The photo binder can only be supplied to stores that have signed up to the initiative, and have strictly agreed to the information sharing protocols.
Sgt Derek Brook of the Copers Cope SNT said, "It is a fact that a high proportion of incidents occurring in the town centre are caused by a minority of prolific offenders. This scheme empowers shop staff and gives them the ability to identify to us who these people are. We can then take action against these people, either by banning them on behalf of the store, making applications for ASBO's, taking them to court following arrest or a combination of the three. The posters being supplied to shops are key, telling would be offenders in a very blunt and direct manner that we know who you are and we don’t want you here. We intend to start the scheme with a monthly newsletter, highlighting incidents, good practice and any ongoing problems. This scheme was first used in Chessington where crime dropped dramatically, and stayed down. We expect the same result in Beckenham and are encouraged by the fact that so far 92 Town centre stores have signed up to free scheme. Communication is the key, and as the local Police Team, we are in a good position to communicate with partners in the Town centre".
Beckenham’s Town Centre Manager, Nicola Musto said, ‘This is what Town Centre Management is looking to achieve, developing and maintaining safe towns. Building good working relationships with the Met Police, other key partners, as well as the businesses of Beckenham along with appropriate departments within the Council to accomplish our aims and aspirations. All in all, working to build a better Bromley.’
The scheme is free to join. For more information contact Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 020 8721 2772.
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Editors Notes