PCC urges retailers, local authorities and police to tackle crime together in Trowbridge

Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson has spoken to retailers and businesses in Trowbridge about the need to continue to improve partnership working and increase intelligence following a meeting of the town's shopwatch group.

Mr Wilkinson spoke to the group about the intention to roll out Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP) across Wiltshire after the first BCRP is launched in Salisbury in November and highlighted how they will improve links between the police, businesses and local councils.

Trowbridge has recently seen a targeted response to street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town centre with 89 arrests being made from June until September.

At the meeting, Inspector Ho Tsang from the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team told the shop watch group that reported crime had dropped from month to month, but this was to be expected as a result of the positive action his team was taking in the town centre.

During the meeting, discussions were held around the confidence retail employees had to approach shoplifters and the different policies used by companies to deal with retail crime.

Retailers at the meeting also spoke about the issues they had with submitting CCTV evidence to the police.

At the end of the session, Mr Wilkinson said there were many points to take away and think about.

He said:

"What's clear from this meeting is there's an appetite for retailers to learn more about where they stand with regards to the law and how they can collect and submit CCTV evidence efficiently when their businesses are affected by crime.

"It's important that we build upon the strong relationships which have been forged by Inspector Tsang and his team, in order to continue to improve public confidence in the town centre.

"By introducing the idea of the BCRP to the retailers and Chamber of Commerce, I hope they see the benefits of partnership working when dealing with retail crime and will see this put into practice when the BCRP is launched in Salisbury." 

Carey Tesler is the chair of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce, and she welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner's attendance at the shopwatch meeting:

"These regular meetings are vital in uniting our retail businesses, supported by The Trowbridge Chamber, Wiltshire Council, Trowbridge Town Council and Wiltshire Police. They encourage everyone to come together as a community to report and discourage crime throughout our County Town.

"Many smaller retailers are often not aware of the reporting options open to them, and larger firms often don't have inhouse security anymore, leaving shop staff to fend for themselves regarding shoplifting or anti social behaviour.

"We have already distributed simplified reporting sheets and issued Shopwatch deterrent stickers to retailers, but the Police and Crime Commissioner explained how the town could benefit from further insight into reporting options that most of our retailers were unaware of, and we look forward to forging a closer partnership with the PCC going forward."