Shrewsbury shop watch scheme to ban troublemakers
People caught stealing or causing trouble at stores in Shrewsbury will face a lengthy ban from the majority of shops in the town.
The ban will be implemented under a new retail exclusion scheme being introduced by Safer Shrewsbury Shop Watch. It will be run on similar lines to the highly successful exclusion initiative operated by the town’s Pubwatch scheme.
Over the past 18 months, Shrewsbury Pubwatch has operated a zero tolerance policy towards offenders involved in violence, theft and drugs in member premises. This has led to 300 people currently being barred or made subject to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and a significant decrease in violent crime.
Under the retail exclusion scheme, people will be banned from entering all 64 Shop Watch member premises for any of the following offences:
- Persistently stealing from member premises.
- Offering violence, threats or intimidation to staff, customers or police.
- The misuse of drugs on member premises.
- Attempting to make off after a theft when requested to return to the store.
- Thefts above a pre-determined value.
Once an offender has been banned, store security officers, police officers and CCTV operators will be given details of the ban and will work together to enforce it.
Scheme manger, Richard Goodchild, said: “Retail crime cost the nation £1.1 billion in 2009/10 with £210 million spent protecting staff, stock and premises. Our desire is to promote the safest shopping experience possible in Shrewsbury. I work closely with the Town Centre Local Policing Team, and, in particular, with PC David Walton, with whom I have formulated the retail exclusion scheme.
“Several individuals have already been identified as meeting the criteria for a ban and I will be writing to them over the next week or so. Should any shops, businesses or licensed premises wish to join the scheme, they can contact me at office@safershrewsbury.co.uk or on 01743-343178.”
PC Walton added: “Those individuals who think they can flout their bans and continue to commit further offences, will be dealt with robustly. We will ask the courts to treat breaches as an aggravating factor when considering sentence.”
