A SCHEME to empower retailers in two town centres so they can tackle crime and anti social behaviour will be re-launched.

A meeting will be held next week to try to drum up support for a Shopwatch initiative in Spennymoor and Ferryhill.

Police hope traders will join the scheme which enables officers and shops to share information that could prevent crime or catch culprits in the act.

Spennymoor Beat Sergeant Jon Curtis, said: “On a monthly basis we go round all the shops with a photo board of frequent offenders so shop staff know who to look out for.

“With the radios, retailers who spot them can warn others and pass on descriptions and locations so shops can then heighten their security.

“The beat team also carry a radio so will pick up incidents and messages, we can meet these known criminals at the door and offer to help with their shopping so they know they are being watched and to stop them offending.

“Incidents of antisocial behaviour can also be reported using the radios so officers know where there could be trouble that needs dealing with.”

He said tackling retail crime and antisocial behaviour in the town will help businesses and the wider community.

Sgt Curtis said: “Shoplifting is not a particular problem here but we know that the resident criminals will travel between the two towns to commit thefts, which often facilitate other crimes- drug users will shoplift then sell the stolen goods to buy drugs.

“Shoplifting is a problem for businesses, particularly the independent ones, as there is a financial loss but it is also about making the town a safer and nicer place to work and visit.”

A previous scheme was reasonably well supported but problems with the analogue radios meant the impact it had was limited.

Digital radios are now available and a booster mast has been erected at Spennymoor Town Hall so they now work better and between the two towns.

Three shops in each town are currently undergoing a free trial with the radios from Apex Radio Systems, if retailers want to join the scheme in future there will be a monthly charge for the equipment.

Representatives from the police, North East Retail Crime Partnership and Apex will be at the Shopwatch meeting at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, on Thursday, May 21, at 1pm.

Sgt Curtis added: “We all want to work together to prevent and detect crime and I’d really like retailers to take ownership of the scheme.”