Newark town centre Shopwatch to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour
A shopwatch group is set to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour, making the town centre a no-go zone for thieves and yobs.
Police are backing the initiative to help send the message: ‘If you steal from Newark, Shopwatch will be on you.’
Shopwatch is a group of retailers who communicate with each other via radio throughout the working day and also have a direct link to CCTV, police and the district council’s community protection officers.
Information is shared between stores of shoplifters and sightings of suspicious people and those involved in anti-social behaviour and drug use.
Shopwatch chairman Carolyn Boswell, of Monsoon/Accessorise, said the aim was to provide people with a safe environment in which to shop.
“For us it is about working together as we are all against shop lifting and have businesses to run — we are hard workers. The police do a good job and are connected with us,” she said.
“These meetings are also very helpful as we can discuss what we are experiencing and share CCTV intel across the town centre,” she said.
PC Rob Harrison, Newark Police’s town centre beat manager, said: “Newark Shopwatch is a fantastic scheme run by a dedicated group who are committed to reducing shop theft in Newark town centre.
“Shop theft has a direct impact on criminality in Newark, not only affecting local businesses who lose money but also a direct link to drug use, which itself brings anti-social behaviour, drug supply and associated violence and other offences to the area.”
Recent instances of antisocial behaviour has included groups of youths, while crime was more associated with adults/repeat offenders the homeless and drug users.
Anti-social behaviour included youths who threw chairs from Costa’s outdoor area into Pandora’s shop.
In another instance, manhole covers in the Market Place were lifted for people to potentially fall down them.
Threatening language has been used and thefts included anything from sweets, alcohol, clothing and bikes.
A number of prolific thieves have either been jailed recently or sentenced to Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) banning them from shops or even the town centre.
Newark Shopwatch meets monthly with police and Newark and Sherwood District Council, which runs and operates the Shopwatch radios, where information is shared and ideas brought forward in tackling issues.
This benefits police by having eyes and ears in the town centre and provides valuable intelligence which has an impact on tackling theft and associated crime.
Newark Police has focused on youth projects throughout the summer, including activity days where police have formed relationships and broken down barriers with those at risk of offending.
It has also imposed a number of dispersal orders — where police can ask a person to leave an area for up to 48 hours to prevent harassment, alarm, distress, crime or disorder — in the town centre in recent weeks.
Newark and Sherwood District Council leader David Lloyd said: “Shopwatch is a great forum for retailers to share alerts, collate intelligence and keep an eye out for one another.
“We actively work with the police in protecting local businesses against theft and recently installed a new CCTV camera in Newark Market Place, which offers greater scope to prevent crime and maximise efforts to keep the public safe.
“Our community protection officers are our eyes and ears, looking out for retailers and helping police to deal with criminal behaviour.
“We will continue to support Shopwatch members and the police in taking action against perpetrators.”
All crime across the Newark area is 2% down for the year to date. Shop theft is 2.8% lower and anti-social behaviour 3.9%.
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