Shop and pub businesses in Gloucestershire are being urged to get involved in a new initiative to fight high street crime. Nearly 30 organisations have already signed up to the Tewkesbury Safe scheme to tackle crimes in the town such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.
The council-backed campaign will see night-time businesses operating a yellow and red card system at member-licensed premises. Members of the scheme will be able to issue yellow cards to offenders involved in crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour in or near their premises. An independent panel will decide if offenders, including those in licensed premises, receive a warning or an exclusion.
Cllr Alex Hegenbarth, lead member for community and housing said: “Crimes like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour can have a serious impact on staff and customers, but also on a business’s bottom line and reputation.
“Local businesses are encouraged to join the scheme and display a Tewkesbury Safe membership sticker. We hope that this will reassure customers that the businesses are working with the town and borough councils and the police to provide a safer environment for all.”
The scheme is being supported by Tewkesbury Borough Council and Tewkesbury Town Council. The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Gloucestershire awarded £15,000 to fund the scheme, which helped to support the supply and installation of Tewkesbury Safe membership materials, radios, an Ofcom licence, site assessments and reporting tools.
Tewkesbury Safe is part of the Gloucester City Safe business crime reduction partnership-based approach to preventing crime and disorder.
Inspector Grant White from the Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team added: “We’ve seen the success of other schemes like City Safe, which has more than 200 members from a variety of businesses in Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester and Gloucester, including shops, pubs, clubs, takeaways and transport services.
“Tewkesbury was the last area within the county to become part of this scheme and us joining means the county benefits from a standardised and uniformed approach when it comes to retail crime and the night time economy.”