Crimebusting pack goes rural
Following the successful introduction of the Ballymena town centre Retail Crime Reduction Pack, funding has been secured from Ballymena Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) to broaden the initiative to other towns and villages in the borough. Retailers who could potentially be at risk of shoplifting and counterfeit fraud will be issued with the guidance pack outlining their rights regarding shoplifters and may also have the opportunity to avail
of a counterfeit detector to combat fraud on their premises.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPacks and detectors will be distributed to small independent retailers by the rural community safety wardens who are also funded through Ballymena PCSP.
Since April the Community Safety Warden has made 640 contact calls with retailers in the rural villages and has monitored or reported 248 incidents of anti-social behaviour.
Chair of Ballymena Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Roy Gillespie said: “In these hard times it is essential that everything possible is done to prevent retail crime. It is difficult enough for small retailers to make a living without the scourge of shoplifting.
“This booklet gives all retailers the knowledge they need to act in relation to retail crime and I am delighted that it’s being distributed throughout the rural retail sector.”