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We want to help businesses and their staff and customers stay safe by targeting offenders and preventing criminal activity.
Taking Safer Business Action is one way we can do this. Our specialist Business Crime Team links up with community policing teams, fraud prevention officers and our volunteer Active Citizens to visit businesses and speak to staff and customers about crime prevention.
Yesterday, Wednesday 13 March, was market day in Rayleigh and officers were in the High Street area to focus on shoplifting, providing advice on security, staff safety and how to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
They visited 14 stores to highlight various initiatives, including our Open For Business, Closed For Crime campaign - which encourages staff to report all crime and incidents of anti-social behaviour to us – the High Street’s new TownLink radio system and Op Pedlar, which seeks to reduce the opportunities for thieves to sell shoplifted goods.
Business crime officer PC Alex Plakhtienko says retailers who have already received their TownLink radios had told him how the scheme had brought the business community together.
“Staff reported that they felt much safer in their workplaces and three new businesses asked to join the scheme.
“Through our Open For Business, Closed For Crime initiative, we encourage staff and customers to report crime and anti-social behaviour to us online at www.essex.police.uk/ro or by ringing 999 if the crime is happening there and then.
“We can then work with stores to identify and prosecute offenders while giving them crime prevention advice to improve security and reduce opportunities for shoplifters.
“This helps us to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour while also protecting vulnerable shop staff from abuse and stores from the cost of shop theft. The new TownLink radio and CCTV systems now in place in Rayleigh will also help us to do this.”
Business crime officer PC Alex Plakhtienko
Two licensed convenience stores signed up to the Business Crime Team’s Operation Pedlar responsible retailer agreement, which means they will only buy stock from legitimate sources and will share information with us about people who offer them stolen goods.
And one man arrested at the BP petrol station in London Road was due to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court this morning, charged with shop theft.
During the day, Rayleigh Town Centre Team officers were out on patrol in the town centre and the skate park and open play area in King George V Playing Field, engaging with residents and shoppers to find out what issues matter to them.
While customers visiting Halifax Bank were able to speak to a police officer, a fraud prevention co-ordinator and one of our volunteer Active Citizens about personal safety and how to keep themselves safe from online fraudsters.
The TownLink radio system was launched in Rayleigh High Street in December as a joint initiative between Essex Police, Rochford District Council, Rochford & Castle Point Community Safety Partnership and ShopSafe.
It allows retailers to share information about suspects instantly with each other and with the police, where necessary, and is supported by the town’s new 24/7 monitored CCTV system.
The TownLink radio system provides reassurance to retailers in Rayleigh as the system allows greater communication between retailers and police to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as protecting vulnerable shop staff workers from abuse.
PC Plakhtienko explains:
“TownLink radio provides vital reassurance for retailers as well as customers visiting Rayleigh High Street because it enables better communications between the stores and with the police, when necessary.
“Yesterday, a shoplifting suspect was arrested by town centre team officers alerted via the system, which certainly demonstrates its value.“
Cllr Lisa Newport, Lead Member for Communities and Health of Rochford District Council’s Joint Administration, adds:
“This new radio system, along with the new CCTV coverage we have, which is monitored 24 hours a day by the control room, will give people and businesses alike, a sense of added safety in and around the town.”
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