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Radio Link Helps Traders Beat the Villains
They cost just a few pounds a week, but they are saving Rotherham town centre businesses potentially thousands in shoplifting and other crime. What are they? Simple two-way radios.
The Rotherham Radio Links Scheme, run by the RMBCs town centre management team, in partnership with South Yorkshire Police, is growing as businesses see the exclusive benefits.
I would not be without mine, said Dawn Ordish, owner of Dawns Ink & Media Supplies on Eastwood Lane. It is worth every penny and it pays for itself times over.
Four new members have joined in the space of a few days including the first taxi firm A1 Taxis, Yella Brick Road (the first business to open in the newly restored Imperial Buildings), Image Boutique on Wellgate, and Blue Ice Nightclub on Ship Hill.
A partner in A1, Ray Watson, said: It gives us protection for our drivers and the public. We have 150 cars contracted to us, which is a lot of extra eyes on the streets, so if the drivers see anything suspicious they can notify the CCTV room. And with pubs and clubs on the link, we can get an early alert of any trouble.
The radios cost six pounds a week for licensed premises and independent businesses, and ten pounds a week for nationals. Council Cabinet member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation, Cllr Gerald Smith, said: The scheme can be a lifeline. It is proving its worth to town centre businesses, and we would like to see many more join.
Town Centre Safety Manager Michele Hill said: Any trouble, or even hint of trouble, and we or the subscribers can call for the police or town centre Police Community Support Officers. Descriptions of shoplifters or suspected shoplifters can also be passed on.
Measures such as this are helping Rotherham buck the national trend of increasing cases of shoplifting, believed to be due primarily to the economic downturn. Rotherham town centre, by contrast, has seen a drop. Latest figures from the South Yorkshire Police Community Intelligence Unit show that offences for shoplifting and handling stolen goods fell by a fifth, from 56 in August to 45 in November.
