Shoplifting down by more than a quarter in St Annes as link radio scheme pays off
Delight at 53 per cent drop in incidents in first month of ShopSafe scheme’s operation
Shoplifting across St Annes town centre has fallen by 26 per cent in just a matter of months following the introduction of the Town Link ShopSafe Radio System.
The scheme, launched in January, connects retailers, town centre staff, Fylde Council officers and Lancashire Police in a real-time communication network.
In the very first month of operation, shoplifting incidents dropped by 53 per cent compared to the same month the previous year, with that positive trend continuing since.
The power of the system was brought to life on one particularly busy Saturday in the scheme’s early weeks, when a flurry of incidents tested, and demonstrated exactly what partnership working can achieve.
A call from Home Bargains to the neighbourhood policing team set off a chain of coordinated responses that saw a known pair arrested at the railway station after committing thefts from B&M, M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, with hundreds of pounds’ worth of goods recovered.
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At the same time, CCTV operators tracked two males who carried out a bulk theft from Boots and attempted to enter Superdrug, allowing staff to act quickly and turn them away.
One participating retailer in the scheme said: “The radio link has proven to be a great tool against antisocial behaviour and shoplifting.
“Within the first two weeks of it going live, several shoplifters were either caught or deterred. There are many retailers asking about the radios and keen to join the link – the scheme is already making a real difference.”
The scheme was made possible through a collaboration between partners, with funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) meaning every participating business has been able to access the scheme completely free of charge during the 12-month trial.
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Cllr Chris Dixon, Fylde Council’s lead member for Social Wellbeing, said: “This scheme is about more than crime figures.
“It’s about making St Annes a place where businesses can thrive, residents feel safe and everyone who visits, works or lives here can enjoy a vibrant and welcoming town centre.
“We’re committed to working with all our fantastic partners to ensure this scheme has a long and successful future.”
Sergeant Adam Robinson, from Fylde Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The ShopSafe Radio System is a fantastic example of how partnership working can make a real difference.
“By improving communication between businesses, CCTV, and our officers, we can respond quickly to incidents, prevent crime, and create a safer environment for everyone.
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“This initiative is about building confidence and ensuring St Annes remains a vibrant and welcoming town centre. We look forward to continuing to grow the project in the coming months and years ahead."
Mike Sheppard, Business Development Manager from ShopSafe, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with Fylde Council and Lancashire Police to provide smart radios that empower fast, effective communication between those on the front line of tackling retail crime.”
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “It’s fantastic to see the success of the ShopSafe Radio Scheme and the positive impact it has had during its opening months.
"This initiative builds on the work of Op Vulture, which tackles retail crime across Lancashire, and is a great example of what effective partnership working can achieve to prevent, deter and tackle crime.”