Shropshire businesses unite to stop criminals
Tackle crime together – that was the message to Shropshire business from their MP. David Wright called on people to unite to stop criminals coming into the area – and that is just what a group of businesses are now doing on one of the county’s industrial estates.
They have taken over the running of Operation Citadel, an initiative launched this Summer aimed at being the “eyes and ears” of the police and eliminating crime in business areas across Telford.
There were a total of 40 crimes committed against Stafford Park businesses over the past six months. Although it is too early to tell if the anti crime effort is having an affect on crime figures, it has led to people working together to combat crime, said police officer Fred Jones.
“One firm’s CCTV picked up a suspicious vehicle touring the industrial estate only recently and this information was quickly passed to many businesses who were signed up to Ringmaster, the email messaging service.
“People were then aware and looking out for the vehicle. This example of people working together is going to help us to catch criminals and bring the crime figures down,” he said.
Stafford Park is the first area to introduce the scheme which involves setting up an intelligence network with organisers urging every firm to sign up to the Ringmaster scheme.
The initiative will be explained to business members at a special launch at 10am on November 17 at Shropshire Chamber’s offices in Stafford Park when businesses can leave their details to receive a free SmartWater anti crime kit.
“We fully expect many more businesses will sign up and support Operation Citadel as we intend to send a clear message to anyone involved in crime that they are not welcome on Stafford Park and if they come here, they will be caught as we are watching out for you,” said Bill Turner, a Facilities Manager at Amey, the public services provider.
“We can succeed in deterring criminals if everyone works together and pools their resources and energy. When a crime happens on our estate, we need to quickly tell everyone via email so that we can watch out for the perpetrators and their vehicles and remember them if they return,” said Mr Turner, the newly elected chairman of Operation Citadel.
“There are so many things we can do but we do need volunteers to contribute their ideas and enthusiasm.”
Diane Wallis, of TRG Recycling, a new member of the Operation Citadel committee, said: “If we all join together then we can stop crime in our area.”
CCTV is being used to spot suspicious vehicles coming in and out of all the estate’s roads and the group is working with police on crime prevention and deterrents.
SmartWater Technology Ltd has already donated £100,000 to give every Stafford Park business that signs up to Operation Citadel a free SmartWater forensic coding kit. The anti-crime kit allows businesses to forensically mark their valuable with a unique chemical solution. This provides the police with valuable evidence to trace the owner of stolen property and link the criminal with the crime scene.
Ex-policeman and SmartWater founder Phil Cleary said: “The SmartWater brand is well known to criminals who will avoid it at all costs for fear of being forensically linked with a crime. Therefore by displaying SmartWater labels on entrance doors, windows and valuables, Stafford Park businesses will send a very powerful deterrent message to thieves.”
Operation Citadel meet at the offices of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce in Stafford Park. If you want to join them, contact Bill Turner on 0121 423 7759 or 07725445419 or bill.turner@amey.co.uk
To receive the Ringmaster email, with phone or text alerts of crime in your area, visit www.twpcm.org or www.safer-shropshire.org
